Young pregnancy and miscarriage?

[stormiedawn597]

I just found out I'm pregnant, due in January. However I am constantly being warned that I could miscarry easily and have very high chances of it because this is both my first pregnancy and I'm barely 20. Now this obviously was not a planned pregnancy but that is the last thing I want. It's terrifying me because I just want my baby to be healthy and everything I'm hearing is telling me that is not likely. Does anyone have any input or encouraging words?

 

[Emerald rose]

I don't think age has anything to do with miscarriage. I was 18 when i had my first and had no issues. No one ever said anything like that to me.

 

[fcroxy]

My sister had her first at 17 and no problems. I've never heard that before tbh?! Who's been saying it family/friends or midwives? X

 

[stormiedawn597]

My sister had her first at 17 and no problems. I've never heard that before tbh?! Who's been saying it family/friends or midwives? X

I had a nurse tell me that, and also I've heard it from family. So I did some research and found that miscarriage is more likely until 12 weeks, and I'm only at 4. My mother and a few (reliable I think) sources told me not even tell anyone until 12 weeks because of the chances. It's absolutely terrifying. It's nice hearing that other have never heard of such a thing. X

 

[BunnyN]

My chances of having a MC at the age of 36 are much higher than yours. MC is a risk of any pregnancy and sometimes its scary but its easy to forget that for most women the chances of everything being fine are still much higher than it going wrong. Try to just enjoy each day of your pregnancy. It is a shame to ruin this special time with worry about what might happen.

 

[fcroxy]

My sister had her first at 17 and no problems. I've never heard that before tbh?! Who's been saying it family/friends or midwives? X

I had a nurse tell me that, and also I've heard it from family. So I did some research and found that miscarriage is more likely until 12 weeks, and I'm only at 4. My mother and a few (reliable I think) sources told me not even tell anyone until 12 weeks because of the chances. It's absolutely terrifying. It's nice hearing that other have never heard of such a thing. X

Yeh there is more of a chance of miscarriage before 12 weeks and a lot of woman don't tell anyone before their scan for this reason, me included. But I honestly never heard that being younger will increase the chance. I've known a lot of people to have babies before their 20s and it ended in a healthy baby. I wouldn't listen tbh as it'll only get you more anxious x

 

[mummywanabe]

The 12 weeks is a risk for anyone of any age. Was it a nurse or midwife that told you this? The difference in their knowledge on this can be vast, if anything I would have thought being younger would be better, i didn't start trying for a baby until I was 30 and out of 6 babies I've only managed to have one no explanation so I would worry about your age, there's not much you can do to prevent it happening so just try not to stress and relax, and fingers crossed baby will stay put x

 

[stormiedawn597]

The 12 weeks is a risk for anyone of any age. Was it a nurse or midwife that told you this? The difference in their knowledge on this can be vast, if anything I would have thought being younger would be better, i didn't start trying for a baby until I was 30 and out of 6 babies I've only managed to have one no explanation so I would worry about your age, there's not much you can do to prevent it happening so just try not to stress and relax, and fingers crossed baby will stay put x

It was a nurse, someone I know personally which is why I was talking to her about it. I'm sorry to hear about your losses though, that hits deep. It is nice to hear that my age will not make anything more difficult when it comes to the baby. X

 

[mummywanabe]

I was just asking was she a nurse or midwife as I'm a nurse too and although I covered some maternity stuff about 10 years ago it was very brief and have specialised in another area but deffo wouldn't have the knowledge a midwife would have, miscarriages are common but I don't think young age would be a factor

 

[SiameseCatLady]

Never heard such a thing.
Try to relax and enjoy your pregnancy.
It really annoys me that people have given you this 'advice.'
You will be a great mother and I am sure that your baby will be ok. Xxxx

 

[Sparklegirl]

I'd say every pregnancy has the chance of mc more so before 12 weeks and as an older mother but can't say I've heard being young puts you at higher risk. I know I'm higher risk because of certain factors but I'd say your chances are the same as everyone else's. Try not to worry unduly, I hope it's a happy and healthy pregnancy for you

 

[KeelyT90]

Risk of MC is higher to every woman within the first 12 weeks. MC risk rate does increase with age though. We're not announcing it until after the scan and combined screening results come back. I'm 26. I was 23 when I was pregnant first time..... My mum was 17 when she had me.

I wouldn't worry, you're young and healthy! X

 

[stormiedawn597]

I was just asking was she a nurse or midwife as I'm a nurse too and although I covered some maternity stuff about 10 years ago it was very brief and have specialised in another area but deffo wouldn't have the knowledge a midwife would have, miscarriages are common but I don't think young age would be a factor

Okay, that makes sense. And that's great, I don't want to contribute any factor that could make MC any more likely.

 

[stormiedawn597]

Risk of MC is higher to every woman within the first 12 weeks. MC risk rate does increase with age though. We're not announcing it until after the scan and combined screening results come back. I'm 26. I was 23 when I was pregnant first time..... My mum was 17 when she had me.

I wouldn't worry, you're young and healthy! X

Less than 8% for us! That makes me feel so much better We are also waiting until after our first sonogram and we have the gender until we announce the pregnancy, so another 2 months since that won't happen until 12 weeks. Hopefully they will go by quickly! xx

 

[BunnyN]

They cant tell you the gender until at least 16weeks. Some book a private scan at 16 weeks to find out the gender. Most people find out at the 20 week scan. Some sonographers will give a guess at 12 weeks but they cant be sure.

 

[stormiedawn597]

They cant tell you the gender until at least 16weeks. Some book a private scan at 16 weeks to find out the gender. Most people find out at the 20 week scan. Some sonographers will give a guess at 12 weeks but they cant be sure.

I see! I didn't know that, so it must be the guesses that I'm seeing others have. Even a guess would be nice, I suppose.

 

[Ellsbells]

I've only just turned 21 and expecting my first baby! So as with yourself, I'm also considered quite 'young'. The thing is, years & years ago, many women our age would be married with kids by now without the intervention of modern medicine and scans etc, we are technically classed as being a healthy age for children as our parts technically in their 'peak'. Please try not to listen to old wives tales etc, they'll only make your worries worse! Being pregnant, you're also monitored very closely by midwives and doctors so if anything wasn't right, it'd always be picked up! You have so many blood tests, nothing could be missed!

Unfortunately, you're always going to worry, and there are always things you're going to question, when I found out I was pregnant at 4 weeks, I felt like everything went so slowly and worried about everything, I was constantly googling everything, and if I'm honest it only made things worse for me so I decided to have a break from the forums until my first scan! For peace of mind however, I'd definitely recommend booking an early private reassurance scan, I had one at about 8/9 weeks, then had my NHS 12 week scan, I also had a private gender 16 week scan and now I am about a week and a half away from my NHS 20 week! It goes by ridiculously quickly, so try and enjoy! Always contact your midwife as well for any questions, you'll probably have your booking in appointment at around 8/9 weeks and they'll go through all of your family medical history, check your blood pressure, weight etc! Also don't hesitate to use the NHS website! There are answers for everything!

Please contact me if you have any questions though as we're both similar ages good luck x