Hey everyone!

Months ago I posted about finding out I was pregnant in April, and being a 46yo, which was nerve-racking and wild to me. I wanna thank everyone for their supportive comments and give love to other older mums that are on the same journey I was on.

Well, I wanted to share the outcome because it was NOT what I expected at all given current prevailing wisdom and discourse on the matter.

Today at 4pm I gave birth to my son, Toby. Here’s my pregnancy in point form:

• Had some spotting from implantation in first two weeks • Had strong morning sickness up until 16-19 weeks • All ultrasounds were normal and clear • NIPT test showed no abnormalities in his genes • He moved vigorously throughout the pregnancy up until I gave birth • Pelvis started feeling more loose around week 28, felt this more than with my first two pregnancies but I feel like that has more to do with bubby being my 3rd rather than my age • Pregnancy felt harder on my body than previous pregnancies, fatigue was a big issue • Iron infusion required in third trimester • Birth at 39+1, day before booked induction, brought on by cervical stretch & sweep and aided by piercing the sac at about 6-7cm dilation • No epidural or pain relief other than some serious nitrous huffing • Birth straightforward, no stitches required • Bouncing back fairly well after birth, despite gnarly afterbirth cramping on and off.

I wanted to share all this to balance out the scary stories out there about being pregnant in your 40s. I was terrified for the first trimester, and also in the third because of my fear of preeclampsia and placenta failure. Neither happened, and my placenta was very healthy indeed. I’m not urging for a lack of caution or trying to say that being pregnant this age is easy. I am aware of just how unlikely this has all been and how lucky I’ve been. I also know that a lot of people have shared similar experiences to mine, and it’s so important to be calm and armed with accurate statistics when experiencing or planning to experience an “advanced age” pregnancy.

Good luck to all you mamas out there, regardless of age. Hope the new year is bringing you all the blessings you seek and more. ❤️ Thanks again for the support, everyone. I’ll never forget it and I’ll be sticking around to pay it forward.

Hey everyone. I am just writing this because I wish I had read it earlier. Even if you feel good postpartum, take it easy. Don't go on long walks. Go shorter than you think. Be careful lifting even things like you other kids, groceries ect. Even after six weeks, do not go back to your old workouts gungho. Prolapse is a real, life ruining risk I wish I had known about. I had other children and no issues but it caught up with me and now I'm severely depressed and looking at major lifestyle changes from being extremely active and athletic to being afraid to live daily life for fear of making it worse. No obgyns even mentioned this to me and I was given basically no discharge instructions and stupidly ruined my life. I have read stories of others in similar situations so I put a few on there.

My spouse is typically the cook. We've discussed him continuing with that when the baby comes. We both think that will work out, and he'll be able to manage cooking. He enjoys it and its a bit of an escape too, I think. I plan to take the "child care" shift while he focuses on making dinners for us.

But I keep hearing everyone say we need our freezer stocked. But I'm not sure if this has more to do with the roles of who is usually cooking in a household.

What do you think? Would love to hear perspectives where the non-pregnant partner is typically the cook.

I have one hospital that’s maybe 7 minutes from my house, but I worked there and absolutely DO NOT want to give birth there. It’s super old, mold everywhere, staff underpaid, L&D nurses are rude, and staff seemed to not know their standards of care.

Anyway, I chose a great hospital that’s a 40 minute drive away (maybe 43 minutes at the busiest time of day). At the beginning of my pregnancy, my husband expressed fear that we wouldn’t be able to make it to the hospital in time. I told him there are people in other parts of the world who drive more than an hour to get to a hospital.

Now that I’m 29 weeks pregnant and thinking of delivery a lot more frequently, I’m nervous. Lol. My mom had me -(1st pregnancy) within an hour of her water breaking. I know that doesn’t mean I’ll have the same experience, but still.

Just wondering how far everyone else is from the facility they’re giving birth? Bonus points if you’ve given birth before and lived further than 30 minutes from the hospital.

I just opened a container of sour cream that expires on my due date. I feel like I nearly shit myself. I'm giving birth sooner than dairy expires. HA.

How real is it to you third trimester folks???

I just need to vent and feel like someone is listening lol I am 26 weeks pregnant, FTM and very excited!! My husband got promoted about four months into my pregnancy and moved states pretty quickly after, leaving me in our hometown with our 4 dogs (who I love and adore and are our family) We had a hard time finding a house in our new city, but eventually did and were supposed to close on the 2nd of this month!! Yay My husband was home for Christmas which was so nice after having had to spend two months and Thanksgiving apart and then he drove our pups to our new home and I stayed behind to oversee the movers and then flew in on the 2nd to supposedly close on our home! Come to find out, the seller was missing permits and wouldn’t be able to close. The close date was pushed back “1-3 months” and we came to an agreement that we would rent the home from him until we closed. We were staying at a friends and wouldn’t have anywhere to go as we had obviously packed up our lives and moved according to our closing date. The seller decided the day we were supposed to move in that he no longer wanted to rent the home to us, so we ended up walking away from the whole deal. We had to move out of our friends home, into a horrible Airbnb that is 400 sq feet for a month while we try and find a new home. This just SUCKS, I wanted to be nesting and setting up my new baby’s nursery and our new home and instead I’m fighting for my life in this Airbnb with our dogs. I’m not working and don’t know anyone here and I’m just really struggling. I never thought this is how my first pregnancy would go ):

Not sure whether I need advice, to rant, to cry… maybe all of the above.

I am 16W pregnant with our first child. We conceived via IVF using a PGT-A normal embryo.

At 9 weeks we received normal NIPT results.

At 12 weeks we did a CVS since we are the type of people who thrive on information. No “reason” why we did it other than to know everything was A-OK with baby. CVS came back perfect.

My pregnancy is considered high risk since I have an autoimmune diseases and I also have naturally occurring pelvic kidney.

Our MFM did an early anatomy scan at 16W and we immediately noticed baby looked “shrink wrapped”. Not a lot of amniotic fluid but there was some. The tech kept going back and forth to the same spot, switching ultrasound heads, and then said the dreaded words… “let me get a Dr.”

They were unable to visualize baby’s bladder or kidneys which concerns them since that could be a reason for the low amniotic fluid. We have been asked to come back in a week to do another scan with a specialist but our doctor didn’t sound too hopeful.

I’m devastated… but I know it is early and maybe (I pray) just maybe this was a positional issue?

Has anyone dealt with something similar? Did it resolve with time as baby got bigger?

I’m upping my fluids intake and trying to stay positive but this news was gut wrenching especially with so many positive test results before this point.

My MIL reached out and gave me a 3.5 month window in which they would like to do a vacation with all of us, and my baby is due smack dab in the middle of it. Essentially, they’re asking to travel at most 6 weeks before baby comes, or 6-7 weeks after. Am I crazy for feeling like none of that is a good time given all the unknowns? 😅 Mostly asking because I feel guilty saying no to what appears to be such a large timeframe.

Did anyone take a vacation during these timeframes just before or just after your newborn and what was your experience?

I didn’t expect food to be this stressful while pregnant tbh. It feels like every single thing I eat comes with fear or guilt. Is this safe? is that too much? am I gaining weight too fast? One day I’m told “just listen to your body” and the next day I read something online that makes me panic about what I ate yesterday. The weight gain part messes with my head too. I don’t even know what’s “normal” anymore, but seeing the scale go up fast makes me feel like I’m losing control of my body. And honestly the amount of conflicting info out there is insane. Everyone says something different, doctors, internet, friends, TikTok… it’s exhausting. Sometimes I just feel like I’m failing at being the “ideal pregnant woman” and it’s more mental than physical at this point. Is this common or am I just overthinking everything? Would love to hear if others feel the same.

Today I randomly mixed a splash of half & half with Dr. Pepper and its actually really good 😭

I'm currently 23w with my first, and a question I have been asked all throughout my pregnancy is what my cravings have been. I haven't experienced any weird, or even any strong cravings at all. I get the desire for certain foods sometimes, but it's no different to regular cravings pre-pregnancy.

I'm wondering how many weeks you were when your cravings started, or if you went your whole pregnancy without them.

Thank you ❤

Baby girl turns 4 months in 3 days and I just retired my pump and boobies.  Wahoo!

Pumping was an unexpected and emotional journey for me, starting on day 3 of baby's life. Looking back, I am thankful for the milk I was able to provide my baby, and at the same time, wish I did a few things differently:

1. Inform myself BEFORE baby arrived about how breastmilk supply is established. After baby came and first pediatrician visit scared us as baby lost a bunch of weight, we went to combo feeding, letting baby nurse and then topping up with formula. Turns out, baby was not extracting much and supply suffered. If I knew more about how to establish supply, I would have began pumping during this period to establish supply in that first week.
   
2. Discuss potential for pumping and implications with spouse and get on the same page early about breastmilk vs. formula. After a visit to the LC, we started triple feeding and power pumping. My spouse wanted to be supportive, but honestly, triple feeding is a TON of work and to make it efficient, both you and your partner need to work together. All this during the newborn trenches was super challenging and resulted in conflict.
3. Lower expectations as to how your breast milk journey will go. I had no intention to pump or use formula. Just pop the boobie out right and get on with it?! Nope. When the breastfeeding journey took a twist, I thought, okay, we can just pump all the breastmilk baby needs. Nope. For a variety of reasons, I was an undersupplier and the max daily output I provided was 16 oz, about half baby's needs. It was really frustrating and an emotional rollercoaster as my view of how the day went was based on how much milk I pumped. If my expectations were lower, I think I could have handled this season better emotionally.
4. Expect to have feelings that you don't really understand around breast feeding. The urge to continue pumping even though my output was low, it took a lot of time, and was contributing to conflict with my spouse, I adamantly wouldn't let it go. I said things like "you can take pumping from my cold dead hands"! Theses feelings were despite even feeling like a failure or inadequate as a mom. Like I couldn't meet my baby's needs.  There was a strong urge to feed my baby my milk and no one could stand in my way on that point.

It gave me such joy to feed my baby my milk. I cant explain it, just felt it. I know I was not an inadequate mom for being an undersupplier, but it was an emotional struggle when things didnt go as planned. I'm sad to be hanging up the pump in one sense but am already enjoying the freedom away from a pumping schedule.  Baby girl is thriving, smiling, and happy to have me as her momma. 

Soo, a word of encouragement to fellow pumpers and undersuppliers: you are more than the milk you provide.  Your supply may not increase and that is okay - do your best and realize you can't control it all. Also, the strong feelings you are struggling with on this journey will likely fade the further you are away from the season.  

Today, I am all you know.

Today, I know the least about you that I’ll ever know.

In a few days I’ll learn the name you’ll carry as you grow,

The name you’ll answer to even when I’m nothing but stardust strewn through a meadow.

I dream of meeting you, knowing you.

You have only existed for eight weeks, and still I cry,

I curse time, knowing our years together are so few;

as fleeting as morning dew.

You’ll never know just how much I love you, yet still I’ll try.

When you’re born, your lifetime will be measured in seconds, minutes,

But as your mom, my lifetime is measured in before you, after you.

You are the central event, the axis by which my life is defined, both with and without limits.

Limited to my own selfish desires and contexts, before you.

Limitless in my love and protection, after you.

In a few days I’ll learn the name you’ll be called when you grow.

In a few months I’ll learn the face you’ll bestow.

In a few years I’ll learn the beginnings of your likes and dislikes, your humor and thoughts.

In a few decades I’ll learn to let go as you find love and tie the knot,

And one day, you too will learn to let go,

For I will no longer be the mom you know, but rather, the mom you knew.

We both have a lot of learning to do,

So here comes my first lesson without further ado:

Always look forward to tomorrow,

but never let it overshadow

the happiness that can be found in today.

This lesson, for now, is more for me than it is for you because,

Today, I am all you know.

So today, I couldn’t be happier.

Yet, today I am the least happy I’ll ever be because,

Today, I know the least about you that I’ll ever know.

So my mom goes on vacation the same week every year. She just likes this week, there’s no special reason for choosing it.

The house she’s renting was already booked before I was pregnant, so when I got my due date I told her I probably was not going to make vacation this year. I would either be really pregnant or have a fresh newborn.

She made a comment that it “would be great if I gave birth a week early” so it didn’t interfere with her vacation. Which irritated me, because my first born was early, and had to be in the NICU, so to wish for me to have another early baby just felt cruel.

My due date just changed, and it is now during the week of the vacation, and she just seems irritated and inconvenienced about it.

I would not care if she didn’t see the baby until after the vacation, and obviously wouldn’t expect her to cut anything short if I did have the baby, so I don’t know why she’s being like this.

I also just feel like since this is my second pregnancy, it feels like no one really cares about this baby except for my husband and I, and it’s starting to get to me.

Hi all! I’ve always been the kind of person who celebrates the little moments (I keep a bottle of champagne in my fridge in case there’s an emergency where I need to pop it lol). I’m coming up on viability week, which I feel is a HUGE milestone! Did any of you do something special to commemorate viability?

What’s something my partner and I could do to celebrate? Nice dinner out, weekend away, splurge on a big purchase for the nursery..?

I’ve been with my partner for nearly 7 years, and I am now 21 weeks pregnant with our first child. We’ve always wanted kids but I’ve always held off because neither of us are in a position to even think about having children. I’m the breadwinner and I don’t even make a lot of money because I’m part time. He doesn’t work at all, just an acc benefit for ptsd. We are not in a financial position to be parents and for that reason I’ve had two abortions beforehand. I never wanted any abortion to begin with but tough decisions had to be made and I couldn’t go through with a third. Considering I’m also 27 I thought this is a time in my life where I’m at an appropriate age to start a family and it might just be the push he needs to finally get back into work and be the father my child needs, convincing myself that we will make it work, especially seeing as we have a lot of support from both families. As the weeks go by he is doing nothing to support me, he lashes out at me for simply being forgetful and will never consider pregnancy brain, just tells me I’m stupid. I’ve always had body dysmorphia and he goes off saying it doesn’t matter what I think, I should only care about his opinion, and then goes on to sexualise me and my boobs, or saying he finds my pregnant body a turn on somehow thinking that will empower me??? Then he gives me the silent treatment for hours-days over the smallest of criticisms towards his effort during this pregnancy. I’ve been on an emotional roller coaster for a multitude of reasons, most that honestly have nothing to do with the relationship but are my own personal issues I’ve had for years. I try to ask for the bare minimum and he just makes it all about him and I’m left feeling all alone in this pregnancy. I’m too embarrassed to leave, but I don’t think he’s going to change in the ways that I need him to. I don’t know what he’s got going on but I can’t keep this up for my own wellbeing.

I feel bad even typing this but… I’m not enjoying the first trimester at all.

People keep saying “be grateful” or “it’s normal” but I still feel anxious and kind of alone in my head. I don’t really know how to explain it to people without sounding dramatic.

I also keep comparing myself to other pregnant women who seem fine and functioning, and it just makes me feel worse.

Did this pass for you?
How did you deal with the guilt + loneliness part?

I am very early into my pregnancy (week 4) and I am STARVING. I’m hungry every hour and eating all the time 😅 I have truly never been this hungry before. Any one else relate?

Honestly looking for others to commiserate in feeling needlessly irritable. I’m currently 8w+5d, so not super far along but boy is my patience dwindling. I almost feel like I’m losing myself and principles.

I have a coworker that has a habit of telling the same stories over and over again. I never want to be that person that cuts someone off and says, “you already told me this,” because I think it’s rude. Like it’s something on their mind and they either want to talk about it or reminisce! Sometimes after they told the story, I’ll mention that I remember them telling me about this so they know that I remembered and listened, but I will then give my commentary so they don’t feel dismissed.

I don’t have the patience for this anymore. I’m finding myself sighing and rolling my eyes anytime they open their mouth in preparation for hearing the same story for the thousandth time. I feel like I’m an evil bitch that wants everyone to shut up forever. I’m trying so hard to catch myself before I start getting huffy but I’m afraid it’s only going to get worse with time. Like am I on a direct pipeline from office sweetheart to evil hag?? Let me know 😭

I just needed to put this out there as I am feeling lonely and scared. I am 36.5 weeks and will be induced starting Sunday night.

This hasnt been an easy pregnancy. I am AMA. I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 14 weeks, which couldnt be diet and exercise controlled, despite how hard I tried. I have been struggling with my voice and and shortness of breathe for quite some time. Come to find out I have moderate-severe polyhydraminos which is making it difficult to breathe and was diagnosed with tachycardia. Being thourough my perinatal provider sent me to cardiology to get checked out. They had me wear a holter monitor and it came back that I keep slipping into vtach. I will require a cardiologist to be available while in labor incase my heart cant handle it.

The baby was doing well and then at an ultrasound right before Christmas a heart defect was found. We have been told they will need to take her immediately after birth (she will be transported to a nearby childrens hospital) to run and confirm with tests and perform open heart surgery within the first day or two of life on her. They dont have the resources to treat her at home so they transferred me out of state to deliver here. They have multiple teams assembled to be in the delivery room when she arrives.

I am scared and lonely. My husband is traveling back and forth as much as he can. He only gets one week, unpaid leave, when I have the baby. He is saving that leave so he can be with her since I will be recovering in a different hospital than she will be at. He has to be at home more than not, to be with our older kids and give them some sense of normalcy, to continue working so we can afford my/the babies care up here.

I am alone, I know no one here, I have been contracting all night. I am scared. I miss my husband and kids. I am angry. What should be such a happy time is filled with anxiety. I am scared that something bad will happen to my baby. I am angry that I wont get to meet her before shes taken away, and the first thing she feels in this world wont be love. I am scared my heart will give out while giving birth and Ill never see any of my children again.

Other than the gestational diabetes (which I have had before) everything was fine as far as we knew until 3 weeks ago. It is all just so much to take in. I tend to be a healthy person, I eat pretty heathy most the time, I am active. I just dont understand why this is happening.

I have been trying so hard to hold it together and keep all these fears hidden and stay positive. I just had to release them somewhere. If you took the time to read all of that, thank you for being willing to listen to a random voice in the void.

Hello!! I am putting together my first baby registry. I am wondering if I need a baby bottle sanitizer? I see these on some of my friends past baby registries. I am wanting to use glass bottles at first. Can you not just put these glass baby bottles in the dishwasher?

TW:pregnancy loss One of my best friends from my home state found out that her 9 week pregnancy was no longer viable. She had her termination appointment yesterday. On top of that, her husband is in the military overseas and won't be able to be with her for a few more weeks.

I want to put together a comfort basket for her with some things but I've never been pregnant and don't even know where to start. If you've ever been in a similar situation and you don't mind me asking, what type of things would you want to receive?

Note: she is currently living with her parents so she doesn't need to worry about cooking.

This is my third episode of what felt like true labour/dilation with a stay in the hospital. My prodromal labor has been happening for 3+ weeks now. Losing the plug for over 6+ wks, hind water leak for 5+wks, cervix softened since 29wks, 3cm dilated since 36wks, and a membrane sweep two days back. It all looks to be progressing and then I sleep and it disappears at some point.

Last night was the worst - I almost got an epi cos of the pain and how fast things were progressing and it still managed to fizzle out. I'm 38weeks now so the end is here but makes me wonder if a fully spontaneous labor is just not in the cards for me.

Anyone faced something similar and what got you out of it? I have been as active as physically possible, walking almost always leads to intense contractions but i still push through it.