29 weeks pregnant at 44

I am 29 weeks pregnant with my first baby.

I turned 44 years old today.

I have had three miscarriages, and my last FSH [follicle stimulating hormone] (tested over 2 years ago) was 18 on day 10.

It was probably higher when we conceived this baby.

I was told by the first RE [reproductive endocrinologist] I saw, my chances of conceiving were pretty slim (based on the theory I would be a poor responder to treatment).

 Turns out I wasn't that great of a responder.

I got 9 eggs on my first IVF [in vitro fertilization], 8 on the second, 3 on the 3rd IVF and the last two cycles produced one egg each (both never fertilized).

I got pregnant once through IVF, but had a better success rate conceiving naturally.

Unfortunately, miscarriages were my issue.

The point of my long ramble, is that FSH is not an indicator of whether or not you will get pregnant or have a baby (especially conceived naturally), it's just a measure of how you MIGHT respond to the IVF meds.

I tell everyone I know not to give up, and to focus on trying naturally if male factor and other female issues are not a problem.

From my experience, IVF wasn't the best route to our baby, but thankfully I am beating the statistics and defying all the naysayers who told me a high FSH number equals never having a baby.

I wish everyone on this board much success in their journey to have a baby. - Anne

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Ready: Why Women Are Embracing The New Later Motherhood
by Elizabeth Gregory

-- Over the past three decades, skyrocketing numbers of women have chosen to start their families in their late thirties and early forties.

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Women now have the option to define for themselves when they're ready for family, rather than sticking to a schedule set by social convention.

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Category: 43, 44, 47, FSH