nervous mom age 38

im 38 and recenty found out im expecting a baby.. im very scared because im hearing all these scary stories about women  35+ having down syndrome babies and other such risky pregnancies. I worked with  woman who was 40 and her baby was DS and died in the womb around due date. Im very scared and very nervous. I have 3 children age 20, 15 and 10.. im unsure how pregnant i am .. the due date calculator says by my last period my baby will be born around july 5 2013.. however my last period was sept 27 and it was very light and very short.. like 2 days short.I have my first dr appt on dec 12.. i have already done the prenatal work up and they said they would explain results on the 12.... should i be so worried?? i cannot eat and when i do its very little, im sick all the time, and my stomach often feels very uncomfortable... not crampy but uncomfortable. anyone else in my shoes.?? HElp!!!

[trying43]

First of all congrats.  Second, you will hear all kinds of "stories" disregard those or u will drive yourself crazy!  I was 37 when I had my 3rd baby and she was fine!  I refused all testing because what most drs don't tell you is the false positive rates are extremely high!  I went strictly by the ultrasounds.  Even if something would have been wrong I would never consider termination.  Anyway having the symptoms you have sounds like a good sign.  Try to relax and enjoy your pregnancy.  Good luck.

[Kelz72312]

first congrats on the baby.. i know the sick part usually happpens in the first few weeks of pregancy so if your 3 months then thats when it usually hits.. about the DS i would speak with your OBGYN about that cause im not really sure about that one..

[makebaby]

I agree with trying43 :-)

[ChristineMP]

I agree with trying43 also. I had my daughter last year a month before my 42nd birthday. My first grandchild was born 11 months later :) Yes, we are at higher risk percentage-wis...but more DS babies are born to younger women than older women...age is no guarantee (I saw a perinatal specialist when I was pregnant...he told us about an 18 year old girl who had just learned her child was DS)

The other thing is...even if there is a birth defect...tests cannot say to what degree a child will be affected. I know of DS children who grow up and go to college (obviously they are only mildly affected)...

The odds are overwhelmingly in favor of a healthy baby...try to focus on the positive and reduce your stress levels as much as possible

[angelab2012]

Hi.  I'm 37 will be 38 before the baby is born image almost 13 weeks.  I am also more concerned this time about this also.  I'm on baby number 5. Mine will be when baby comes,  18, 15, 11, 8. I'm Actually Going for. That new test the ultrasound and blood work.  They didn't do that when I had my last I was 30then.  I'm also more concerned because. Babies daddy is over 40. Well stay positive we will have healthy happy babies.  ish you the best of luck :)

[lisa15972]

Hi I am 40 and expecting my sixth baby. My youngest will be one on New years eve and this  one due beginning of Feb. I had no problems apart from diabetes. It's more common for women to have babies late 30's. Good luck xx Lisa