Odds of having a healthy baby

[olderMom38]

Does anyone out there besides me worry about having a healthy baby at an older age?? So many people told me it would be crazy to try to get pregnant at our ages (38 & 45). So, of coarse, as soon as I find out I'm pregnant the first thing i do is worry about what people said. There are lots of movie stars out there having babies at older ages. We haven't told anyone yet because we wanted to wait til our first appt. I just want people to be happy for us. Has anyone had a baby at our age?

[ChristineMP]

I think every woman worries about whether or not their baby will be healthy. I think with older women though, we have more knowledge, in general, than younger women. I had two children when I was younger (daughter when I was 20, son when I was 22)  and other than having pneumonia while about 10 weeks pregnant with my daughter and being concerned about how the treatment for that might affect her...I don't recall worrying.

Now, I am 41 and pregnant (naturally and quickly, much to our surprise...I stopped taking my birth control in early Feb planning to let my body return to normal so we would be ready to try to conceive this summer...and got pregnant that first cycle LOL). I am also a nurse...and I am more worried about this little one than I was with the other two (combined!). I am also having some complications this time...a low lying placenta and occasional spotting, often for no reason whatsoever :(

So, yes I worry more now...not necessarily due to the increased risks but because I know so much more about what CAN happen...

[RmberMe69]

Hi, I am 42 I fell pregnant naturally, my mother was like... "why do you want to go through all that again". ughh I don't have to justify myself to anyone.
Being pregnant at 42 has had its challenges, I have Gestational Diabetes and High blood pressure and I am only 16 w 6d !

[babywish_]

I know what you mean - I'm 42 and I haven't told anyone in my family (they live out of town) that we've been trying to concieve. I have no idea what their reaction will be. My bigger concern is having it happen at all.  I do know that once I am pregant, I'm not going to worry (well, try not to) about what other people think.  My Mom had me when she was 42, so who knows, maybe it will be my lucky number :).   Because I'm 42, I am opting for donor eggs or a donor embryo.  If i were under 40, I'd still try using my own eggs and hope for the best.    Congratulations and i wish you the best!

[redhead68]

Hello and congratulations on your pregnancy!! I am assuming that you are 38, which is still young enough to have a baby. My mother had me at 41 with no fertility treatments in 1968 and my maternal grandmother had my aunt at 47!! We were born all healthy and my aunt has lived up to 70. I think your baby will be healthy and beautiful.
What no one is telling you is that all these women, especially MOVIE STARS are getting pregnant with DONOR EGGS, which means if your uterus is healthy it is like getting pregnant at 21, if your donor is that age. Believe me I am going through the process of getting pregnant and after 2 IVF's last year ended up in miscarriage. My Doc explained to me the whole "older age conception thing". Women over the age of 40 have 5% chance of a live birth and women over 45 less than 1%. Most women over 40 have had reproductive assistance and anyone over 40 who has twins have with no doubt used donor eggs. My doctor said it is impossible to have twins on your own in your 40's.
The truth of the matter is no one talks about. It is the biggest TABOO!!
And all those movie stars don't do us any justice by not telling the truth. They go as far as saying they did IVF, but that is not enough. The star Marcia Cross had twins at 44 and all she says is "I am blessed" well give me a break. Get real. I am so sorry to sound this raw, but right now my husband and I are trying to have a baby and it is a very long and emotionally stressful road. We are both healthy and 43 and 48 yrs of age and yet not easy at all.
So consider yourself blessed. I am sure you will give birth to a healthy and beautiful baby.