July 2019 Moms
mamanbebe
member
35+ Mamas - November Checkin
mamanbebe
member
There seems to be a fair amount of us on this board, which makes me pretty happy! I'd love this to be a place that we can talk about our pregnancy experiences, previous childbirth experiences, challenges, delights, etc!
Here are a few starter questions:
How old are you?
Do you have any other children?
How was your TTC experience?
How do you feel about your pregnancy so far?
Any challenges or concerns?
Here are a few starter questions:
How old are you?
Do you have any other children?
How was your TTC experience?
How do you feel about your pregnancy so far?
Any challenges or concerns?
Re: 35+ Mamas - November Checkin
How old are you? I will be 41 on November 17th.
Do you have any other children? 3 boys, 25 yr old step son, almost 11yr old, and 9 yr old.
How was your TTC experience? So... have not TTC'd for real since the 9yr old. Had surprises that ended with loss the last 3 years. Used the pull out method very effectively for the last year until we were in a place where we could get health care. Went to see the Dr 9/24, got bloodwork done and the okay to TTC, LMP started 10/1, stopped pulling out AND Ovulated AND got KU on 10/13
How do you feel about your pregnancy so far? Ecstatic and scared. Besides my history, my age doesn't bother me.
Any challenges or concerns? None at the moment.
How old are you? 37
Do you have any other children? 3 boys - 8, 6, and 2
How was your TTC experience? Surprisingly easy. We were on the fence about #4 and decided to NTNP and the first month off birth control I got a bfp.
How do you feel about your pregnancy so far? Cautious. **TW** we had a loss at 12 weeks just before our 2 year old (he is our rainbow baby) and that experience rocked us to the core. We are trying to stay positive, yet realistic.
Any challenges or concerns? Not really. So far so good, but at 6 weeks we're still reeeeeeally early.
Also, everyone should feel free to throw in some GTKYs
How old are you? 36
Do you have any other children? 1 boy, age 4
How was your TTC experience? It wasn't long (a little over 3 months) but harrowing. My health took a nosedive last year and I've been struggling to figure out what is going on and improve things this year. Things seemed to get worse as soon as we started TTC but are slowing rebounding now.
How do you feel about your pregnancy so far? I feel pretty good! It was totally unexpected but it feels about the same as my first pregnancy did. It seems very bizarre to be happening but also perfect.
Any challenges or concerns? I had some blood tests done and my B12, Progesterone and Testosterone are low. I need to start on Progesterone suppositories tonight, going to see my fertility naturopath on Friday to discuss how to improve testosterone with diet and talk about some other markers that came up in the blood tests.
Do you have any other children? No
How was your TTC experience? Third cycle attempt was the winner!
How do you feel about your pregnancy so far? Very odd. At 6 weeks now, and it really hasn’t hit me yet. I’m excited... but it doesn’t quite seem real yet.
Any challenges or concerns? Only symptom is bloating- not sure if I should be greatful or nervous.
Do you have any other children? Yes. An amazing DD who will be 5 in January.
How was your TTC experience? Difficult. TW***
We had a loss at 13 weeks a year ago September (it took 8 cycles to conceive) which resulted in me hemorrhaging and almost bleeding out completely. Almost dying made me deathly afraid to get pregnant again and seeing me bleeding traumatised my daughter...the sight of blood or me going to the hospital for any reason gives her panic attacks:/ SO desperately wanted to try again so we did. It took 9 cycles but we got pregnant again...only to have another loss at 10 weeks this past July (they got me in for a D&C immediately in order to avoid another possible hemorrhage). We started trying again in September and shockingly we got pregnant on our first try. So here I am:)
How do you feel about your pregnancy so far? I'm not sure. Happy. Thrilled. Excited. Terrified. Worried. Among other things.
Any challenges or concerns? Just the horrible horrible nausea. And of course that DD is very adamant about me not having a baby as she knows it means I will have to go in to hospital and she is terrified of that. Not sure how I'm going to tell her but it won't be until well after 2nd tri hits.
How old are you? 34, 35 in March
Do you have any other children? No, FTM
How was your TTC experience? It took almost a year. Our timing often wasn’t great because we both travel a lot for work.
How do you feel about your pregnancy so far? Cautiously excited, but I think a big part of me is holding myself back from fully appreciating it. I’m 6+4 now and having all the symptoms, but it’s just still so early. I think my inability to fully believe it is in large part self-preservation.
Any challenges or concerns? In addition to the above, the nausea is killing me. I had to sit through an all day meeting today and in addition to having to pee way too many times, I had to make a run for it to avoid puking in front of everyone after lunch even though I barely ate anything and spent the rest of the meeting devoting more mental energy to keeping what, if anything, was left of my lunch down than the case we were dicussing.
Do you have any other children? A 4.5 year girl, and 11 month boy.
How was your TTC experience? Our daughter was the first month of NTNP, followed by 2 years of infertility, 3 IUIs, and 2 ovarian surgeries to conceive our son. He is a year old this month so we decided to NTNP, with the agreement that we are done with fertility treatments and happy with 2 kids if it didn't happen naturally, unbelievably I got pregnant the first month.
How do you feel about your pregnancy so far? I don't really feel much, TBH. I mean I am excited, but I think I am in shock, and just "waiting for the other shoe to drop". After our previous ordeal, I feel like this came too easily? I know that's a negative mindset. I just need some time for all this to settle in.
Any challenges or concerns? I have recently been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease similar to RA. I am really struggling with day to day life and had just been put on a prescription for the pain, which I now need to stop taking. The silver-lining is that most autoimmune diseases ease up during pregnancy, so I am hoping that is the case for me too.
Do you have any other children? A 8 year old girl and a 4 year old boy
How was your TTC experience? I have a history of losses. I went through a RE for this nugget - he put me on clomid and progesterone. He was hoping I would ovulate later and have a more normal cycle. So here I am one cycle into clomid
How do you feel about your pregnancy so far? I am cautiously optimistic
Any challenges or concerns? So far just the usual waiting game until the first appointment
I’m 39, will be 40 in April!
We have a beautiful 3 year old daughter who just celebrated her birthday in September (so I was a former September 2015 board member)
we were TTC for 2 years, after several rounds of fertility drugs, 2 IUI’s, we discovered a clinic that offered minimal stimulation IVF. We harvested eggs in September, transferred in October and it stuck!
we are super excited
right now just hoping everything goes well! I saw the gestational sac and yolk sac today which is making things VERY REAL
Do you have any other children? Four-15 (almost 16) 13 (almost 14), 11 and 7
How was your TTC experience? Yeah. . .we didn't. LOL!
How do you feel about your pregnancy so far? Shocked, nervous, excited. Wondering what people will think. Not only am I "old", but this is #5. I think that our kids are going to think we are lunatics.
Any challenges or concerns? None right now. Just normal early stuff and I really wish I could have a glass of wine to help me process all this. Ha ha!
How old are you? 38, almost 39.
Do you have any other children? Yes, 2 boys. One who died when he was 2.5 and one who just turned 4!
How was your TTC experience? Long. We’ve been TTC for 3 years. Lots of m/c and 2 rounds of IVF with no viable embryos. Then, while we were deciding what to do next, surprise. I’m 6 weeks and saw gestational and yolk sac. Which is pretty substantial for me. So I’m gonna hope for a bit longer.
How do you feel about your pregnancy so far? Anxious.
Any challenges or concerns? Just insane PGAL brain.
Do you have any other children? nope
How was your TTC experience? Ugh... we've been TTC 10 years. I think we did 8 or 9 IUIs of varying degrees (Clomid, Femara, injectables, combos of those), 2 surgeries, 1 round of IVF that got us 10 embryos, 4 failed FETs, 1 "success" but ended in MC/ectopic, and finally, we transferred embies 8, 9, & 10 and apparently something stuck which is good b/c it was our last chance.
How do you feel about your pregnancy so far? Cautious. I'm terrified it's going to disappear again and I don't know where we go from here if it does. Symptom-wise, I feel pretty much normal except for a horrible head cold.
Any challenges or concerns? Just staying pregnant at this point.
How old are you? 37 and will be 38 in Jan
Do you have any other children? Bobby 4.5 and Monte 2
How was your TTC experience? We decided end of summer we wanted to start trying so Ive been tracking my period and we haven't been using birth control. With my second we tried for about 5 months and figured it would be the same. So we were pretty shocked when the test was positive so quickly.
How do you feel about your pregnancy so far? Honestly, im terrified. My sister and SIL both had MC recently. My mom had one and DHs mom did too, both moms of 3. And I know the statistics for mc at my age and number of pregnancies is roughly 1 in 3. So this is 3 for me.
Any challenges or concerns? All the things. DH is between jobs and we have TERRIBLE health insurance right now. So unitl Jan 1 we're basically paying out of pocket. Im also high risk bc I have a blood clotting disorder so I will need to see my OB and a MFM. I will also start lovenox injections around 6 weeks. When DH starts back at his new job his hours will be long and into the evenings again. So im worried about what it will be like at night when im huge and cranky dealing with 2 toddlers & night time routine. And then when baby is here how to manage all 3 solo. I also told my mom tonight and she was less than excited. The face she made was more like "omg, why?" So there's that...
Only challenges so far are figuring out the finances. I have a well paying job, but it’s hard on only 1 salary, and I’m in an expensive part of the country for both housing and childcare. I know I’ll figure it out, because I have to, but it’s my biggest stressor right now, for sure.
Do you have any other children? Nope FTM
How was your TTC experience? We did IVF took the first time. Honestly I had Convinced myself that it wouldn't work the first time, he was convinced it would... guess this is one time I can say “you were right” and not be annoyed.
How do you feel about your pregnancy so far? Good, It was planned and honestly can’t complain. We have great jobs and a solid moving plan. I’ve done everything on my end to create him now it’s up to him to stick around.
Any challenges or concerns? My thyroid levels were at 4.5 so the RE put me on synthyriod for the remainder of my pregnancy. Last weeks progesterone levels were on the lower side of normal so I’m not only one 1.5 of PIO BUT also on endometrin suppositories 3 times a day
YAY Me.. said no one, ever!
How old are you? 38, turning 39 in January
Do you have any other children? No!
How was your TTC experience? Embarrassingly easy. We knew we wanted to start trying sometime around the end of this year/start of next year, so in October I was like, “so...I’m probably ovulating this week; you want to try, just to see?” And that was that.
How do you feel about your pregnancy so far? It’s gradually feeling more real, and I’m getting more excited, so I guess “cautiously optimistic”?
Any challenges or concerns? Thirteen years ago I found out I have a bicornuate uterus, so I’ve known for a long time that having a child might be complicated for me. So far, things are going well, but that plus my age make this a high-risk pregnancy. I feel like I can’t ever really relax.
How old are you? 38
Do you have any other children? Yes! 6, 4 and 2
How was your TTC experience? We weren't.
How do you feel about your pregnancy so far? Oh, you know, disbelief, nervousness, worry, more disbelief... we are in love with our kids, and hadn't decided whether we would go for one more (leaning toward not, for so many reasons). I'm worn out from the three kiddos we already have. Anyway, the question kind of got answered for us. Surprise! Some days I am angry and upset that this happened, and other days I feel like we were chosen to give one more tiny human a family, a home, and love. So I am all over the place emotionally.
Any challenges or concerns? Dreading telling my coworkers. In my professional network, people don't have more than 1 or 2 kids. I experienced quite a bit of judgement when I announced #3. Can't imagine what people will say this time around. I shouldn't care, but it affects my career so I still do.
Do you have any other children? Three girls: 7, 6, 3
How was your TTC experience? We stopped birth control a little over a year ago, decided if we got pregnant we would be happy, if we didn’t we were content with our family of 5.
How do you feel about your pregnancy so far? I’m very excited. We weren’t sure if we would have anymore babies, so this is exciting!
Any challenges or concerns? I’ve been keto for almost 3 years, I lost 100 pounds the first year. I was hoping to stay very low carb during the pregnancy, but with the nausea all I want is carbs!
Do you have any other children? Yep, Margaret will be 4 in a couple of weeks 💜
How was your TTC experience? Pretty easy really- removed the IUD in May, but weren’t really trying exactly until like August. We were acually trying to avoid the October cycle but apparently my days were less predictable than usual.
How do you feel about your pregnancy so far?
Ok... to be honest Pregnancy #1 had challenges but none of them really physical- like dd’s father was in a different city we were just dating, had to make some legit choices in a hurry- this time all of that is sorted out, but I’ve been way more nauseous and exhausted.
Any challenges or concerns? I’ve gone from eating super healthy and working out to eating trash and being a slug.
Do you have any other children? a 12 month old daughter
How was your TTC experience? We used IVF because we can't seem to get pregnant naturally. With my daughter, it took many many failed IVF tries. With this pregnancy, got it on the first try, so I guess for me, that's "easy" this time around!
How do you feel about your pregnancy so far? I don't feel pregnant. Maybe because I was secretly not expected IVF to work, I'm not fully accepting that it did. Also, I'm super busy (have a 12 month old, a full time job, and in grad school full time) and I just am not as obsessed with this pregnancy like I was my first, which I guess is not unusual for a second pregnancy.
Any challenges or concerns? I have a subchorionic hematoma (SCH) which is a small bleed between my placenta and me. It's not a big deal as long as it stays small but I'm on pelvic rest probably the entire pregnancy, which means no sex and no working out. I had this with my last pregnancy too - it's more common with IVF - and it caused absolutely no issues either in pregnancy or birth but caused me a ton of worry. So this time around, I'm not going to worry about it all, other than following doctor's orders of taking it easy.
Do you have any other children? 3 boys (1 step)
How was your TTC experience? ooooppss!!
How do you feel about your pregnancy so far? nervous, happy, and confident. Odd mix
Any challenges or concerns? Starting over? Being sick sucks and I really need to keep my job the during all this and after. Not looking forward to a third csection. Hoping for no genetic issues. Step son has growth issues and on hormones so I’m hoping that doesn’t happen twice.
Has anyone else already started their research and found anything interesting about the gambit of tests out there? Pros/Cons/Worth Paying Extra for?