Hi Linda,

Thank you very much for your support. I think the shock has subsided(!) and I am looking forward - though apprehensive, of course, to my scan on Wednesday. I was really shaken by the mw appt, though.

I have decided that I was very lucky to have 'sailed' through the first trimester without even knowing that I was pg, even though I thought I had a very persistent tummy bug!

Thanks again,

Cathy

Wishing you well for Tuesday Kathryn, don't forget to ask for a picture

Sal x

Cathy,

I'm 38 and this is my 1st pg.  I had early bleeding and was sent to my local early Preg Unit for an internal scan.  I can tell you I was relived when I swa my little caterpillar with a beating heart at 6 weeks!

The midwife wanted me to book for a consultation with someone to discuss all the problems that can occur in later pregnancy, and discuss the tests.  I was really strong and told her that as the lo was ok and not ectopic as the doctor thought I was just going to relax until my dating scan, where I would discuss this with MW/Consultant.

I thought a lot about this and decided not to get any tests done as I wouldn't have had any invasive tests.

Sorry I've went on a bit - but thats my story - HTH

Linda x

Hi, I am 40 and have a 13 yr old and an 11 yr old. Have just found out that I am at least 12 weeks pg. Huge shock but family are delighted!

Have had appt with the MW and apart from hearing baby's heartbeat (which was amazing!) found everything very negative and was very teary when I got home. I realise that we need to know what risks are but....

Any thoughts?

Thanks Sal - I think you've just about made my mind up now then.  I have my first scan on Tuesday - I'll only be about 9 and a half weeks but I think maybe they're doing it a bit early to confirm the dates so that they can offer me the nuchal scan.  I'm fairly sure now that I'll not bother having it - I'd rather not waste the resources when they could then offer the appointment time and space to someone who really needs it!  Thanks for your reply and congrats!  Hope you're getting on ok with your lo!  xxx

Kathryn

In answer to your question about nuchal scan, if I got pregnant again I don't think I would go down that road again; it didn't put my mind at rest and I would probably not have had a termination anyway. Like you I had no other tests because I did not want to risk a miscarriage and I was worried about my blood pressure affecting the baby.

Good luck and congratulations on your pregnancy

Sal x

Congratulations and thank you for sharing the good news. All the best with your new daughter and hoping the sons help out too! x

Aww that's fab news - thanks for sharing that with us.  I was going to ask for a nuchal scan (even though I might have to pay for it) but to be honest, having been on these forums for a couple of weeks now, I'm beginning to think it's not worth it.  I don't want any other tests as I don't want to increase any chances of miscarriage and would doubtfully terminate the pregnancy anyway and it seems that the nuchal results always seem to say that you have a fairly high chance of having a baby with Down's.  I don't think it seems worthwhile having it?  If you were to be pregnant again do you think you would have the scan or do you think you just wouldn't bother?

Sal,

Thank you so much for sharing this with us, congratulations on your little girl.

Linda x

Just thought I’d put a positive bit here for us older mums.

its becoming more of the norm to be an older mum but why is it that we all spend so much time and energy on worrying about our pregnancies, is it because all the odds (we are told) are against us? I had 2 boys in my 20s and found I was pregnant again last June!

At the age of 42 and after nine months of anxiety and worry I had a beautiful daughter in Feb weighing 8lb 11ozs. We had the nuchal scan and were given odds of 1 in 278, I decided against any more tests but worried constantly the whole pregnancy. Emily is a gorgeous happy little girl and I am pleased to say perfectly healthy. Lets hear it for us older mums and good luck to all on here, I wish you all the best

Sal xx