I would like to hear from "older" moms to be. I'm 37,soon to be 38, and just now thinking I might be able to handle being a mom. I know the Dr's say there is an increased risk of all kinds of developmental disabilities, but I would like to have just one of my own. My wonderful husband and I have considered adoption and will if we can't get pregnant.
I had my first baby at 36 and 2nd at 38. Both of my kids very healthy. Just try it and see if you get pregnant. I love being an older mom b/c I am very patient. I had a high powered career and gave that up to be home with the kids while they are small. I haven't regretted at all. Its a blast.
Hi, I conceived my first child at 44 thru IVF but used my own eggs.... if you are concerned about Down's or other diseases, there are great genetic counselors avialable and you can do CVS at 12 weeks to determine what if anything might be amiss. We were very forunate and have a healthy, beautiful ten week old girl.
I am 36, pregnant with #2 (had my first child at age 33). I conceived both with one or two cycles of clomid. So, it could be natural or with help, but it is possible. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. And as mentioned before, your odds for problems increase with age, but they are always there no matter what age you decide to conceive. I plan on having at least one more after #2...maybe two more :). We also consider adoption to increase our family even after having our own.
BTW: My mother had me at 40 (I am 8th of 8) and my husband (he is 9th of 9) was born when his mother was also 40, both conceived naturally.
Go for it! All pregnancies have risks!
I am 36 and plan to get pregnant again in the summer so I'll have #3 at 37. A friend of mine recently gave birth at age 38, she tested positive for the down syndrome test and stressed the whole pregnancy only to give birth to a healthy baby girl. Personally, I won't do any extra testing because of my age.
We may be older but we are also wiser (-:
Best of luck!!
M.
Hi...I had my first child at 40 and my last child at 45. I have always taken care of myself...didn't really do anything extra to eat right, but I did stay physically fit and took premium vitamins. My pregnacies were great, no complications, no pain medicines on deliveries. I just believe that God makes no mistakes when it comes down to conception. Every child comes with purpose whether we understand or not. I pray that you are blessed with having children for truely they are a blessing.
HI A.!
I gave birth to my first and only daughter at 36. My daughter is almost 18 months & I'll be 38 next month. I think there are so many advantages to be an 'older' Mom. At the same time though it does come with higher risks. My husband and I have decided not to have more largely because of these risks & we feel very blessed with the one wonderful child that we have. I think that considering the higher risks is a responsible thing to do. In my opinion, if you decide to travel the wonderful path of parenthood you have to go into it knowing that there are risks and things may not be 'perfect' (regardless of your age). Being a Mom is amazing. Good luck in making this huge life decision! :-)
Hi, I was about your age when I was pregnant with my first baby. I now even have a second child... and fortunately, we were blessed with 2 wonderfully healthy and "normal" children, and my pregnancies were fine, and we even got pregnant naturally. Take heart, if you are healthy and fine, then don't worry too much. Yes, there are "risks" even if you are younger. Risks are always there with any pregnancy. You will be fine being a Mom... and your hubby will be fine being a Dad, as you both sound so caring and want children. That is the main thing.
Just talk with your OB, and as a matter of course, they will inform you of any medical "risks" at your age. It's par for the course. But, many many women have children at your age or older nowdays. I am very happy to have had my children... there is nothing more precious. Whether adopted or not, you both seem to have a lot of love to give your child. That is great and so important.
You will find lots of opinions here, so good luck!
~Susan
www.cafepress.com/littlegoogoo
A woman becoming a mom in her 30s does not seem old to me since most of my friends around 35 or older when they had babies. I was 40 and had a great pregnancy, no problems and worked out (cardio) till the middle of my eighth month. Also I worked until the Friday before (I had a C-sect on a Monday) and went to a one year olds birthday party at the beach the DAY before birth. It took me a while to get pregnant since I had fibroids but I am soooo glad that I didn't feel too old and give up when I turned 40 because its the best decision I ever made. My son is 2 years old and the absolute light of my life. Now, I am trying to get pregnant at 43! I also don't worry about being 'too old' when the kids are in high school or older, my grandmother is 96 years old, sharp as a tack and enjoying her great grandchildren!
As others have mentioned, there is a risk of problems for any woman, young or old. If you are worried about genetic defects, I would recomend amniocentesis.
Hi A.,
I was 41 when I gave birth to my first and only child!!! We went through 3 years of infertility and finally conceived through IVF. We now have a very beautiful and healthy 3 year old girl. Doctors always have to tell you "worst case scenario", there is always a risk of having birth defects. There are risks with everything we do in life. Don't be discouraged by your own doctor. Further, my doctor(s) recommended I take folic acid prior to getting pregnancy. Folic acid helps the body make healthy cells and helps prevent birth defects. Just google folic acid for more info. If you and your husband are having difficulty conceiving on your own, make sure to go see a specialist right away. It's worth every minute and every penny!!! Good luck.
E.
I didn't get married until I was 34, but always knew I wanted to have children. I had my first baby 3 weeks before I turned 36, 2nd baby at 39 and the 3rd one at 41. I'm about to turn 43 and aside from being a little more tired than before kids, everything is great! When we told the doctor we were trying to get pregant he said try for 6 months - if nothing happens, come back. For women under 35 they say try for a year. Genetic counseling tells you the risks & percentages for birth defects, but if you eat well and are healthy, more than likely everything will be fine.
If you want to have your own kids, do not wait any longer. I mistakenly thought I had a lot of time to try, so my husband and I kept waiting for the "right" time, and there never really is a "right" time. By the time we started trying, I was already around 35 or 36 years old, and nothing happened. After going through a bunch of tests and finding nothing specific wrong with me, six rounds of artificial insemination, having my husband checked out (he was fine) and four rounds of IVF using my own eggs, I finally resorted to one more round of IVF using a donor egg from a much younger friend, and success finally. I am 45, and my twins are now 4 1/2 years old. I wish I had known earlier what I know now, and that is that your chances of getting pregnant drop significantly in your mid 30s. That is not to say that it's not possible--just a lot harder for many people. Had I know, I would have started all of this sooner.
