Advanced Maternal Age - What goes on

MrsBakes

HI ladies!

I was hoping you could share some experiences if you are advanced maternal age like me. I asked my care team what to expect, when the first ultrasound is done (with the nurse or my second appointment when I actually see the OB - since first time around was a bit different for me)

I know that with my first pregnancy I had some spotting at 5 weeks and so they did an ultrasound then to make sure everything was ok. At that appointment I was explained that US are not done this early usually but 8-10 weeks to determine gestational stage etc, which I knew and it makes sense. So I had one at 7 weeks ( a little earlier due to the spotting at 5) and everything was fine.

So I thought since they didn't want to see me until the  17th this time around where I'll be almost 8 weeks that I may have an ultrasound then, or at the latest on 9/12 when I see my OB. But the nurse just said ultrasound at 20 weeks and that my nurse will decide what we'll do next when I see her on the 17th of this month. That just doesn't sound right to me... Why would the nurse decide what the next step would be, shouldn't that be my OB?

Should I be the annoying,pregnant,pain in the buttox kinda person and ask again? lol

What were your appointments like?

I'm being way OCD about this, aren't I? lol

MrsBakes

And why on earth won't my ticker work

LilyGracesMommy

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gaylew5

I'll be 35 when I have this bugger.  WTF.  How is that AMA?

BecauseLove

MrsBakes be the squeaky wheel. I adore my Fertility Clinic nurse and would take her advice as gold but I don't know that I wouldn't want the DR. to see it too. I mean better safer than sorry. Interesting that they pushed the no ultrasound back...maybe it just means there are no red flags?

If all goes well I will be 37 when the little beast arrives. 

I am having my first ultrasound at roughly 7 weeks but its because I have low #'s. Thinking it is likely I will have my first dr appointment following that. Curious what they will say about me being AMA at that time. 

hollyh98

Glad there are at least a few of us here! I'll be 36 when this one arrives. My first appt. is at 8 weeks and they're doing a u/s.

WkoutMomtoBe

I'm 34 now but will be 35 when I have the baby...not sure if they've voiced a concern but I'm already being watched by of my auto immune so I'll start going to high risk in October

holzie-2

We go for our first ultrasound on the 15th, which is one day shy of 7 weeks.  I will be 36 when this baby is born, so I'm right there with you.  
Does anyone know about the genetic testing they do once you are "of a certain age?"  I know a friend of mine had it done and she was able to find out what she was having, but I don't want to ask her about it, because we haven't told anyone yet.  I was just wondering when this testing happens and what it entails, if anyone knows.

catem07

I'm not AMA but it's called non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPs). My dr uses the Harmony test--you can get it for $100 of you aren't AMA. It's a blood test done around 10 weeks that screens for downs and two other chromosomal disorders. It can also tell gender. It's not diagnostic, so if it's positive you'll probably want to get amniocentesis. 

holzie-2

@yaeger07  Ah!  That's what I was talking about!  It screens, and if there is cause for concern then you get the amnio done, right?

Dax28

Hi Holzie, I'm 29 but my provider (Kaiser Permanent) provides the tests free of charge no matter the maternal age. I was told that it's a blood test with ultrasound @ 10 weeks. Then a repeat test @ 12th to rule out any false positives. Then an amniocentesis if it's needed. 

WkoutMomtoBe

I'm not for sure but my coworker had her 1st baby at age 43 (after 3 miscarriages, including twins, so 4 babies) and did not do the invasive test for Down's/etc so as not a risk for her/the baby because it did not matter and she did not want stress, she would still love the baby.

I told my hubby I feel the same way...I don't want to know/stress

hollyh98

There is also a test called a nuchal translucency ultrasound, which looks at the fluid in the neck and identifies risks for certain genetic disorders. It is also not diagnostic so if an increased risk is indicated an amnio might be recommended. It is done between weeks 11-14 and I think you might be able to determine gender as well.

Pinkpeonies

I will be 37 when this LO is born.  I will have my first appointment at 8 wk and then a NT scan at about 12wks and then go from there!

Beckyf321

Glad to see some other mama's my age in here!  I'm 35 now, but turn 36 about a month before #3 arrives.  I just found out last night that I'm knocked up, so I haven't even called the doctor yet.  I'm interested to see if I'll be considered high risk or not.  One of my girlfriends just had her third at 38 and I'll be using the same OB office as her.  She loved it there, but did say to me once, "If they say advanced maternal age one more time to me I'm going to punch someone in the face."  LOL, oh the joys of having a baby at this age.  I swear, I was 22 like last week.

holzie-2

Thanks ladies!  I appreciate the input.  After all we have been through, we don't care what the outcome is, we just want to be prepared if we are going to have a special needs child.  

MrsBakes

Yeah my clinic does the 12 weeks scan. I had this done with my first as well, when I was only 31; it was optional at that time but I was then told that in AMA it's standard procedure. This should be done (per my clinic) between 11 and 13 weeks. But I won't even see my OB until I'm 11 weeks and it takes a while to get in for this appointment, so not sure how this will all shake out. I keep repeating myself but I'm ticked at how this pregnancy is being handled. Why were they so on top of it first time around but are totally clueless now?? Especially with me being the fn AMA lol

Oh and I just wanted to say that at the 12 week scan they can tell with about 80% certainty the sex of the baby. They told us and were right. I don't know if I'd announce anything after the scan but the chances are good they are right

Beckyf321

I finally set up my first appointments yesterday!  I see the nurse first on 9/15 and they let me pick a CNM, who I see on 9/23.  I'm still waiting to hear about my u/s, which will be around 9/8 (when I'm 8 weeks).  They didn't say anything about my age on the phone yesterday, so I guess we'll see.

Salsera2.0

You guys might like to hear this. I'll be 36 when baby is born and I asked my ob if I should be worried about the whole "AMA" thing. His response was, "Meh. It basically just means your insurance will pay for an amnio."

I love my ob.

holzie-2

I go for my first u/s with my RE tomorrow.  Any idea what to expect?

MrsBakes

Holzie said:

I go for my first u/s with my RE tomorrow.  Any idea what to expect?

How exciting! Well typically they'll ask you to drink tons of water so you'll want to pee your pants! They'll do an internal US first, have you go pee then do external US. It lasts about 30-45 min total. Typically they show you the good stuff such as the flicker of the heart, explain a few thing about the embryo, placenta, etc, then let you hear the heart beat and print of some pics.

At least that's how they do it in my clinic.

shoegirl1975

Hi Ladies, I am new, just intro'd (per the new rules!) anyway: I am 41.  I guess I am the old lady on the board! lol!  I was 38 when I had DD in S13.  The bright side of being AMA is you get more u/s  I did what was called Maternity 21 test back then : it gives you a complete genetic screening of the baby.  It is non invasive.  If there are any issues you address it then.  I have my first u/s at 6w 2 d since they can see a heartbeat then. 

artemis618

Following - pregnant for the first time two months shy of 39!  First appointment (I didn't even have an ob before) is at 8w2d on 9/7...