I’m terrified of the reality of being a first time mother in my forties
DEAR DEIDRE: WHEN I hit my forties I worried I’d never become a mother, yet now I’m pregnant I’m terrified of what the future may hold.
I’m 42, my husband is 47 and we’ve been married for 15 years.
I never worried about my fertility and always assumed that when the time was right it would just happen for us, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.
After years of no luck and several doctor appointments, we ultimately had to give up on our dream of having a family. I was devastated but grew to accept it.
Then four months ago I noticed I’d missed my period. The last thing I expected was to see a positive test result.
While we’re over the moon, I’ve been struggling with feelings of fear and anxiety.
The idea of being a first-time parent is overwhelming. All of my friends had their children years ago.
Am I too old?
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DEIDRE SAYS: It’s normal to feel scared and anxious after finding out about pregnancy, especially if you’ve had years struggling with your fertility.
While having a baby later may not have been your plan, you certainly aren’t alone. In fact, nearly one birth in five is to women over the age of 35.
Join Peanut () which is a safe space for mothers. Through the app you can meet other women nearby who are at a similar stage in life.
My support pack Unplanned Pregnancy will help too.
