Introduction : TTC at 40

Driving280

Hello all - I briefly lurked here years ago.  I have a feeling that I am probably going to stay here for a while this time.  I am turning 40 next week.  I had an accidental PG at 34 (yeah, that month I skipped some bc pills...), but miscarried at 8 weeks. Got pregnant at first try at 36 and had my DS. It took us a while to get to the TTC #2 point and I wish I we got here before the big 4-0 but life doesn't always work that way...  But would love to have a second.  We will be trying naturally for now, though I am planning to get basic hormone tests/bloodwork done.  Would prefer not to do IVF unless there is no other way.  Any thoughts?  Am I needlessly handcapping my chances by relying on the old-fashioned trying method...? 

Jacque Sills

Hi and welcome.

I would think that you have a great chance of getting pregnant, as long that you know that your body is in good shape, healthwise.   Maybe, just go to your OB/GYN for a check up and some basic bw and ultrasound to check, if all is healthy. 

Then, get familiar with your body's signs, like CM and do the ovulation tests to try to pinpoint your fertility window, which is 6 days.  I would highly recommend a great book called, Taking charge of your Fertility, by Toni Weschler.  I think that is how you spell her last name, but you can google it and it will come up. Maybe, check it out at the library to see what you think.  If you are a little more into computer apps, try Fertility Friend.  they are great and have some good tutorials to learn all about your fertility stuff.  It is free, too.  I would recommed the VIP because it starts to analyze the info you input in and figures out your ovulation stuff for you, which is great. 

Maybe, you knew this, if so....sorry for the winded post. 

Best of luck and hope you get your second baby soon!

Ps. if you don't get any results within 6 months, I would then, go to a RE specialist to help you and your husband out. Just a thought.....

Driving280

Thanks so much Jacque and especially for the encouraging words!  Will definitely get that book as well and will look into the Fertility Friend app - I'm addicted to my Ipad for everything...  Last time it happened so quickly that I had not even focused on any of this. 

QOTR

welcome & good luck.

Jacque Sills

My pleasure.....I just hope that you will just have to update your Ipad for following your 9 months of a healthy and happy pregnancy! 

Take care and best of luck! 

CheezeFace

Welcome and good luck!

I think Jacque gave you the best advice possible.

I would get the b/w done ASAP for baseline measurements and to identify any potential issues.  Something as simple as Clomid could alleviate months of anxiety if there is an issue.

I'm willing to bet since you have been PG and carried a healthy LO to term you will be just fine but, unfortunately, Mother Nature is a cruel, cruel, cruel woman and TTC at 40 can be very different than at 35.  Hopefully this isn't the case for you

Truthfully, I don't even think I would TTC for 6months naturally.  I'd give it 3 at the most. 

HeathernSteven

Welcome, Jac said everything I would have said. I would just add make sure you are eating as healthy as possible and taking your prenatals.

Good Luck!

hooligans4

im right with you on the going natural for now.  im almost 38 so i cant wait forever but i will be charting starting next month.  i think once you get a feel for your cycle and when and if you O'd that can be a huge help. 

best of luck and welcome.

 

Driving280

Thanks so much for the encouragement!  I think we'll do 6 months naturally unless the basic screening blood tests are troublesome (high fsh or something).  My family history is pretty encouraging (mom had menopause at 60, and later menopause supposedly correlates with later fertility) and grandma got pregnant naturally at 45.  But everyone is different... 

dragonfly711

Welcome. I just turned 39 in February. We got pregnant in December first try TTC. I was shocked being older. Hubby is 41. We MC in Feb. we were devastated since we are older. 

 We are TTC again for the first time after my DnC. My Dr is not worried and even though we are older he did not seem concerned. Even with the MC he said to wait a few.cycles and TTC again. 

Most times they will not do much testing unless you have had 3 MC. Even being older they do not.

 

Good luck!!!!!!!! 

dragonfly711

Also I use opks, temping and charting. I think I posted this on the wrong board but not sure what one. I'm on iPad. Not used to it. 

Driving280

Hey, just saw my old thread and thought I'd write an update.  I did everything you gals said - charting, OPKs, temping.  Second cycle, BFP!  Unfortunately, that was a chemical pregnancy - period came just a few days late...  We're going to continue trying naturally for a while because clearly I am ovulating and there are eggs good enough to implant, however briefly.  My dr. actually said the chemical pg was a good sign - that most women in their early 40s who were getting BFPs would eventually carry a child to term.  I don't know if that's right, but here's to hoping.

dragonfly711

Welcome!!! I am 39, 40 in feb. so wanted a baby before 40. Found out we were pregnant first try in Dec. MC in Feb at 11 1/2 weeks. We are still TTC.
I do temp, OpKs, and CBFM. I will be calling the Dr soon if nothing this cycle. It will be 5 months of TTC after MC.

Don't feel bad about your age. So many people I know have had babies after 40. We will have ours too!!! Welcome to the board!!!!

dragonfly711

I hope your Dr is right. Gives me hope!!!

Driving280

Thanks all!  Hlm, I hope so, too!  It means you can get pregnant, right?  Just have to hold out for the good egg.  My dr. said that the women who had long-term/unresolvable issues in their late 30s and early 40s were usually those who never saw a BFP.  But I agree, call the dr. if there is nothing in a month or two. 

Jacque Sills

I am so sorry for your loss.....but, as your doctor said, it is good to see that you are still getting prego.  I hope that book helped.  By the way, are you taking your temp, too?  I would be a good reminder that you are actually Oing......just a thought.  Take care and hopefully, you  are healing quickly...I know how tuff miscarriages are........

Take care and keep us posted on how you are doing. 

dragonfly711

I have to say it is so nice to have this board. So nice to know of other women who are older TTC. Sometimes I just feel like I am too old. I know I am not but just so nice to chat with you ladies. Thanks for being here!!!

Driving280

Thanks, Jacque - This loss was not too awful, because I already thought I was out - got spotting for a few days before, then it stopped, I tested, and two days later, bleeding...  Still, sad, but we started to TTC right again.  I am charting as well no issues with ovulating - clear temp shift.

Hlmlvt - Thanks!  You are not too old!!  I am sure you'll get another BFP soon!  How is it going?

MarylandWed

Sorry for your loss but like you said getting a bfp at all is a good sign!

dragonfly711

Driving280 said:

Thanks, Jacque - This loss was not too awful, because I already thought I was out - got spotting for a few days before, then it stopped, I tested, and two days later, bleeding...  Still, sad, but we started to TTC right again.  I am charting as well no issues with ovulating - clear temp shift.

Hlmlvt - Thanks!  You are not too old!!  I am sure you'll get another BFP soon!  How is it going?

Hello there. It is going. Waiting to O should in a few days OPKs are getting darker. CBFM still says high.

I am being lazy w charting this month. I'm still charting but my temps are all over the place. A few nights could not sleep so less than 3 hours I would get. This morning temper but bit later than normal.
I almost did not chart at all but I just can't do that but I am not stressing about my messed up chart either. Maybe I just need a month not to worry.

Yeah I know 40 is not that old. Just hard when I was hoping for being younger but now I will be super excited and grateful when it happens.

Hope you are doing ok. PM me if you ever need to vent.

RedInLove

Welcome!

Driving280

Hello all - Time for an update, which I hope that some people will find encouraging.  So here I am, now 40.5 and having no luck after my chemical.  I made an RE appointment after 5 months of trying and had the first meeting a week ago.  Great news - I had 26 antral follicles, which was apparently on the very high end for a 40 year old.  I also heard a lot of gloom and doom - most of your eggs are no good, even if you have a lot of them, so you probably want to do IVF plus maybe ICSI and definitely PGT. So, got home and started waiting for my period.  After a disheartening three days of brown spotting, that stopped and I got my BFP this morning.  Might be a chemical/miscarriage yet, but still great.

wendylouwhoknew

I'm 44 and we've been trying less than some, I think, so while I'm relatively new here, I'm not new to the whole process.  We start the fertility clinic 11/5 so I'm kind of excited about that.  We've been able to get pregnant on our own, we've just never been able to stay pregnant, so having experts here to help going forward should undo a bit of the stress.  

I've decided to cleans and try ayurveda while I'm still out of the game the next few months, so I give my body the time it needs to heal and get even healthier.  I know they say age is just a number, and while I believe that for the  most part - it's getting my body to go along that seems to be the harder part.

Driving280

Good luck, Wendy!  I am keeping my fingers crossed for you (and myself, as I also had a recent loss). I am glad that I went to the fertility clinic - at least it is clear that there are options...