Any other over 35 moms?

[jadzia's_mommy]

Just checking to see if I'm the only old fart around here. I'm 36 now and will be nearly 37 when this baby is born (my b-day is 9/21). Anyone else over 35?

Last pregnancy I started off with an OB for the first few months, and she sent me for a detailed sonogram and a possible amnio, which I declined. I don't think I'd be any more likely to do the amnio this time, but the detailed sonogram certainly set my mind at ease. I'm just not sure what my mw's policy is on that, but I'm going to ask her when I see her on friday. Just curious what y'all do as far as that extra testing goes. I know my mw's belief is that maternal age isn't a big concern.

[HomeBirthMommy]

Not over 35, but 32 and definetely feeling this pregnancy differently from the one when I was 25. It is startling to see the stats for Down's and how much they increase with age. I think I may opt for an ultrasound just to put my mind at ease as well.

[chalynm]

My SIL was over 35 when she had both of hers, and they had every test known to man. I mean, I think they even requested some that the OB didn't mention! But they're freaks about everything being perfect...including their children.

I know the risks are supposed to be a little bit higher when you're over 35, but here's how the nurse put it to us when I was pg w/ DD: 1) The tests aren't always accurate. A positive doesn't always mean there's something wrong, and a negative doesn't always mean that everything's OK. 2) Here's the big thing to ask yourself: Will a positive change anything for you? If not, and there's no major reason to do the tests (family history, etc.), then why bother?

For us, that was the turning point as far as deciding to do as little intervention/testing as possible. We knew, if the baby was born and there were problems of any kind, we would love him/her just as much as if s/he were perfect. Unfortunately, for my SIL and BIL a positive on any of the tests would have meant possibly terminating the pregnancy, which really would have been unfortunate since they would have been extremely well prepared financially to care for a special needs child, although I have a feeling that the emotional needs of the child would have been totally ignored.

Anyway...I also know that, for some people a positive wouldn't change whether or not they have the baby, but would allow them the time to adjust to the thought of and prepare for a possibly special needs child.

I think my response here probably really isn't of much help to you. I guess, for me, it all boils down to this: If the results aren't going to change anything for you, then don't do it. If a negative will help you be more at ease or a positive help you prepare, then go for it. Like my m/w says, a happy mom is the more important thing right now, so do whatever will help you to be happy.

[seahorsie]

My AF is a little overdue, so if my test comes up positive in the next few days, I'll be joining in here officially soon. I'm 37, will be 38 when baby arrives. I'm not worried about testing for abnormalities. I second what chalynm said. Hoping for a +!

[jadzia's_mommy]

Last time we went to the perinatologist, they had us meet with a genetic counselor first, who proceeded to COMPLETELY freak us out with lists of all the horrible things that could happen. : Then they stuck us in a room for 20 minutes to wait for the ultrasound and stew on all the scary info they just gave us. And then everything was fine anyway.

Lots of BFP vibes for you, seahorsie!

[girlfactory]

I will be 40, one month shy of 41, when this baby comes in September!!! I have 4 other girls, all of them healthy. I had my last girl at 39.

[Gracefulmom]

I'm 36 and will be 37 when #3 arrives in September. I'm feeling old, but mostly feeling surprised. I thought we were done, and was even doing some research on perimenopause! Guess not!

[Darcy37]

Iam 38 Having my 4th child end of May a girl Athena Marie my kids are 20yrs old - 16 months old and I have a 6 month old Grandson

[cheesedreams]

I beat you all!! I'm 42 and will be 43 when this baby is born. Dh and I didn't start trying until I was 38 and then I had one m/c and decided to wait again. I had a perfectly healthy and natural pg and birth with ds, so I'm sure all will go well. If I could only get over my fear of m/c this time. I was sick right at implantation time, right when I first felt pg, so I'm really paranoid!

[aisraeltax]

im not in your DDC but was over 35 when i had E (who is 2 weeks old today). I accepted any/all of their "non-invasive" tests (u/s's, etc.). The only time i regretted that was when i had a level 2 u/s and they freaked me out b/c they said they found "brain clusters" and evidence of down syndrome...so i went to Boston for a second opinion and the drs. there were perplexed at how my first level 2 u/s could have been read in that manner. AND, i got a cold at the hospital in Boston that lasted a couple weeks (only time i was sick during preg.).
if i had it to do again, i wouldnt have gotten all the u/s's.
i did have a harder time w/ the last preg. due to spd (ligament pain that made it very difficult to walk), whereas my first 2 preg's were very easy physically. However, i had natural c/b w/ this last one whereas my first 2 were c/s''s, so this birth was actually much better.
HTH,
rach