andreaharlan:Leslie, I'm sure you've had your baby boy by now. My friend just told me about this site last night so I signed up. I'm 36 and trying to get pregnant with my first baby. Any advice on being pregnant over 35?
Hi there. I'm 35, just had my 3rd 2 months ago. I was 21 when I had my first. I was very conscious of my body being older so I still went to gym well up to my 20th week (not mu full normal work out) . It's been a while so I might not remember that well, but I would say that my body bounced back as quickly as it did back then. The biggest difference was mentally. I do the whole home birth thing so I went with a midwife all through my pregnancy. I had 1 scan and as it turns out that scan was wrong on the dates because my little guy was so big. Towards the end of the pregnancy I was an emotional wreck. Because I'm that much older, I've read a lot more and am a lot more aware. (I was aware of how the baby was lying for instance and I didn't really know before.) So when the time came near and things weren't happening it really freaked me out. I knew the baby was big and I knew I should be early so I was expecting to deliver before my EDD. As it turns out I delivered 4 days after the scan EDD but the mdwf says there was so much vernix he must have 37/38 weeks. When I was speaking with my midwife after she said because I was older I had a greater expectation of perfection.
So my advice - allow things to be what they are going to be. Yes, be informed but allow for the unpredictable. And if you get it right. Tell me how.