Skip to content
Welcome to our new forum! All existing NW Cryobank forum users will need to reset their passwords. Click forgot password and enter your email address to receive the link. Email us at info@nwcryobank.com with any questions.
NW Cryobank community boards and sibling connect groups will no longer be available after December 20th, 2023.
Options

Age and fertility question

starviewchickstarviewchick Posts: 348
edited November -1 in Parenting and Life
I am a SMBC turning 37 this month. I had my baby girl via ds 7 weeks ago and want her to have at least one sibling hopefully via the same donor. Originally I wanted to start trying for a sibling when my baby is 6-8 months old. However, after reading all the posts about the mom's age and fertility I got a bit anxious. At what age should I anticipate starting to have fertility problems? Maybe I should try for #2 right away? It took me 3 tries at home ICIs with my daughter but who knows how long is it going to take me next time? Another thing is I am breastfeeding on-demand and planned to pump when I return to work so I am not sure when my period is going to return. If it does not come back in 2-3 months, do you think I should stop nursing to get pregnant while I still can? Or should I wait til it starts naturally - even if it takes 12+ months and take chances of having age-related fertility issues? Just want your opinion! Thanks!

Comments

  • Options
    annerbonesannerbones Posts: 1,812
    edited November -1
    If it was me and I thought I could handle two little ones that close together I would do it. The only thing I don't know about is the breastfeeding - that is one of natures ways of spacing children. Might be worth it to talk to you OB?

    Good Luck, adding to your family is exciting and scary.
    raF7m7.png
    Progesterone therapy and baby aspirin daily

    Two miscarriages in between (August 2012 - same donor as Maggie, and December 2014 with husband)
    Maggie
    PNa0m7.png
  • Options
    babymakes3babymakes3 Posts: 433 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I say do it. I was 32'when I had 1st and I should have done it right away. Now I am 40, have tried for 3 years and am very disappointed
    connonandray.jpg
  • Options
    ZenZen Posts: 2,942
    edited November -1
    I think you should be okay waiting the 6-8 months. I got pregnant with Shiloh at 39 and had her at 40. In going in to the decision to TTC and be a SMBC, I did not take fertility into consideration. Was quite surprised to find that I did not ovulate regularly. Everything else was normal though and Clomid took care of the ovulation hiccup!

    In your shoes my main concern in delaying would be the risk of genetic anomalies that increase with age (ie: Down's Syndrome). But you're thinking in terms of trying in months rather than years so I think you're fine!
    AfUDuhU.jpgAfUDm4.png
  • Options
    ShannyShanny Posts: 2,456
    edited November -1
    I wouldn't to it but I wouldn't plan a second pregnancy as closely as 6-8 months after either so don't listen to me :)! My reasons though are this -

    - I gave birth at 36 also so I had waited what seems like a lifetime to have this baby and I wanted to enjoy her. It goes by so crazy fast and before you know it one night she is asleep and you are on FB looking at newborn pics and trying to remember all those moments you swore you would never forget. Life gets in the way as it is but adding stress about ttc is just not fair to you or that little one during that time when they should be the only thing on your mind. Just my opinion.

    - Also, "advanced maternal age" doesn't just mean you might have fertility issues...it is code for "you are old" :). Let your body recover from one pregnancy before asking it to go through another.

    - you may go through a range of emotions and thoughts over the next year as to how close in age you want your children, there will be days when you think you may not want another one, there will be days when you want 12 more. Give yourself time to feel some of those emtions and play out differenet scenarios in your head that are hard to envision right now with your baby so young.

    - everyone here probably knows me well enough to know that I would NEVER wean a child to concieve another and inside of a year I just don't agree with that decision. If you want to nurse for a year then nurse but ttc while doing that could be a much bigger obstacle than your age so why stress yourself out?

    - as others have pointed out you have no reason to suspect you will have issues 5 minutes, 5 months or 5 years from now. I wouldn't create a problem where one doesn't exist just because you hear those awful words...advanced maternal age.

    Enjoy your baby, like I said it goes by SO fast!
    image_zps64579b54.png
  • Options
    KariKari Posts: 1,765
    edited November -1
    I got pregnant at 35 and 38, and had my kids at 36 and 39. To be honest, I went to a fertility specialist with the first and was put on Clomid and got pregnant the first cycle on it. I thought I'd been having fertility issues, but in hindsight I was using OPKs that didn't detect my surge until after I had O'd. Fast-forward 1.75 years, and I stopped nursing early April, insemmed two weeks later without the use of fertility meds, and got pregnant on the first try, first vial. I had tried to get pregnant earlier in the year when my son was a year old, but was unable to while I was still nursing. So it's not a guarantee that you're going to have fertility issues, because having been pregnant often snaps your body back into baby-making mode! I have several older friends who had fertility issues conceiving the first, but after that had no issues getting pregnant for #2 and even #3 or #4 in quick succession.
    100_4667_zpspk4wwxj5.jpg
    r9vOm4.png
    Ri4Gm4.png
  • Options
    njmommanjmomma Posts: 531
    edited November -1
    I know 2 people, one is my relative and another is a friend, who got pregnant shortly after giving birth (within 2 - 3 months). They ended up having miscarriages. I don't think in most cases the body is ready for another pregnancy so soon. It needs some time to recover first.
    I don't think 6 months will make a huge difference in fertility, waiting few years is a different story, but not half a year. But that half a year wll give your body enough time to recover to get ready for another baby.
    I gave birth almost 4 months ago, and I don't think I can get pregnant yet, even if I really wanted to (its not that I am even trying, or even thinking about). But my body is still kind of a mess after my pregnancy, I had my first post partum period 2 weeks ago, but it was so different and strange, and I don't think I am ovulating yet.
    Anyway, good luck with your decision and enjoy your baby. :)
    PL87cIN.jpgPL87m4.png
  • Options
    tc0104tc0104 Posts: 579 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would have a fertility workup before making any decisions. Who knew at 33 I would have diminished ovarian reserve, I found out 4 days before our insemination...and still ended up with twins. If it helps ease your mind about the current state of your fertility, definitely get an evaluation. Maybe then you'll feel better about waiting a little longer.
  • Options
    SquizzoSquizzo Posts: 445
    edited November -1
    What's nice about pregnancy and nursing is that is reserves your eggs. Do what you feel is right but don't stress about your fertility just yet since ur body is storing those eggs for now. That said, I so wanna nother one already! Lol. But I think for me it's cuz I'm already ovulating and I feel every ovulation is a wasted opportunity lol
    ceb56f15.jpg

    bDJqm8.png
Sign In or Register to comment.