How old...

[SagMom]

...was your oldest client? I had a midwife tell me that she never had a client over 40 who got pregnant without medical intervention. So, I'm curious. Considering only clients who did not use AI or supplimental hormones, how old was/is your oldest client?

[Reha]

I've attended the homebirth of a 42 (or 43...can't remember now) year old woman. Also, we had a client who was 46, I believe, though she ended up having a miscarriage. :

But, the point is.....both women conceived naturally. And, now that I think of it, I have known quite a few women over 40 who got pregnant without any help at all.

[arimama]

My oldest doula client was 42, almost 43. She got pregnant the first time she tried.

[BetsyS]

My oldest mama was 46. She was pregnant with #12, and she was one of the healthiest mamas that I've ever worked with. She played competitive tennis until about 34 weeks.

[mendomidwife]

50 - and would have had a successful homebirth but she went postdates and had thick meconium. She had a vaginal delivery without problems. Even my backup physician said that if she didn't have HTN or DM there was no reason NOT to try a homebirth.

Carla

[mwherbs]

several at 45-- none that were nullips at 45 though probably the oldest nullipara was 42 and yes fertility help for her but none of the 45 yo women I can think of-- probably the age range that I see go in for fertility help- 28-35 yr olds --- PCOS has become an epidemic of sorts....

[MidwifeErika]

Without help... I think 43. With help.... 50.

[maxmama]

48 with ART. 44 without. Both primips.

[BirthIsAwesome]

My oldest doula client was my first doula birth---my mom having a naturally conceived 6th baby (not counting a few miscarriages sprinkled in) at age 45. She had a successfull, no problem homebirth.

[Jane]

41 and 42, IIRC.

[1stimestar]

42 and it was a total surprise to this couple. Their method of protection had worked well for them for several years.

[SagMom]

Thank you ladies.

I know there are lots of reasons why her statement could have been true in her experience, but it irked me how definitive her statement was. So many woman are seeking medical assistance that it's hard to get a picture of how common pregnancy after 40 is, naturally. I know of several women myself but didn't think my exerience was all that unusual.

Thanks for the feedback.

[Cajunmomma]

I probably don't belong in this forum, but I was 45 when my last was born, and I personally know 4 others over 44 for their last. We say that they'll have to hold the high school graduation in the nursing home.

And all of us were natural conceptions.