Healthy Baby At 38?

[CuriousGeorg]

Went to the doctor today to get a script for prenatals and discuss plans to become pregnant.  I am 38 years old.  She immediately began to spout off statistics about Down's and other problems associated with advanced maternal age.  I must be living in a bubble because I didn't realize that 38 was such a negative number for pregnancy.  Now I am freaked.  Are the statistics that grim?  I have one healthy seven year old son.  Does this help my chances of another healthy pregnancy/baby?

[tina1111]

Ditch the doc, lol. I got pg for the 1st time at 40. Unfortunately mc due to lifting something too heavy. They did genetic testing on the baby and was 100% normal. My dr gave me the statistics for Down's, etc because I asked her. After she gave them to me she said "It's funny how the statistics are so much higher for AMA women when the majority of babies with Down's are born to women under 35." She made me feel much better. We do run a higher risk of mc, though. I've had 2 chemical pgs since the 12wk mc. We'll just keep trying :)

[Baby Vol]

poo on that doctor..thats ridiculous.

[mlb1234]

What the heck????  Your doctor must NOT be very well informed.  I am 37y.  My risk at deivery (I will be 38y then) for trisomies using age and weight alone was something like 1:180.  That is LESS THAN 1% without doing any advanced testing.  Now after the first trimester screening my risk went down to like 1:3000 for Down's and 1:6000 for trisomy 13/18.  My AFP also came out totally normal.  Yes chromosomal abnormalities occur more often with advanced maternal age but by no means does it mean you can't have a completely healthy baby even in your 40's.  Even the genetic counselor we saw basically said we didn't really need to do the screen because the risk was very low anyways.  Do not freak out, just get another doctor and talk to a genetic counselor who really understands the numbers.  The early screens are also quite good if you are on the fence about deciding to do amnio.  Our results came back so good that the amnio would be very unnecessary and we did not do one.  Best of luck!!!!

[CuriousGeorg]

Thank you all for responding so quickly.  I am going to make a few calls today AND get the prenatal vitamins filled.  I was up quite a while last night reading on the internet about advanced maternal age.  Needless to say, woke up with a killer headache and a whole lot of the same negative info.  I appreciate you all for the positive words.

[butterfly_kisses7588]

I agree, see another DR.  Mine said at 38, the biggest concern I had was multiples....not such a bad thing!

[RunningL8]

I agree--switch doctors!  38 is not old at all; find a doctor who sees lots of women your age.  (I got pregnant at age 45 and 1/2--which really IS old--and my doctors were really supportive and positive!)