Pregnancy after 40

My only child is approaching his 21st Birthday, I’ve been happily married for eight great years and I decide at the ripe age of forty-three; that’s right a 4 and a 3 to embark on the ultimate journey of baby-making once again!

My husband’s AARP application arrived in the mail recently along with his firefighter retirement check – he just turned 50. He barely looks 40. I tell him it’s genetics, he jokes it’s from not having to raise a few kids.

I know how psyched my 20-year-old son is about having a sibling. He has no idea how psyched I am about having a free 20-year-old babysitter!

After years of mulling it over, hours of discussion, passionately over-analyzing the subject with no definitive resolution, questions arise; the brain goes on overload.

Do I really want to start the whole process again? Will we still be able to travel and work?

And what about raising the kid? Public or private school? Minivan or SUV?

Or as my husband says, Lions or Bears fan? Red Wings or Black Hawks? And how much is college going to be in the year 2026? Will we be cashing in the house for two semesters of college?

And who’s the designated babysitter when the free twenty-year-old gets tired of smelly diapers?

Our cat sitter is only $17 a day and that includes two feedings and one litter box clean-up; wonder if she’ll be available! Some other friends recently turned their loving dog-sitter Paula into their Nanny for their two babies.

Grandma Nancy’s out of service. She’s in Michigan helping with 17 grandkids at the over-ripe age of 82.

What if the little one is allergic to the cats? Who goes, the kid or the cats? What if we have multiples? Won’t even go there!

Here’s a horror story. Last time I had a baby my shoe size went up ½ size. If it happens again; so much for my Donald Pliner Snake-skin sandals.

Then there’s the boob issue; will they sag after nursing and droop like half-filled water balloons. I can always get a boob-job after breast-feeding and finance the kid’s college.

What about baby-proofing the house and sleep . . . ah sleep . . . I really enjoy my sleep . . . do I really want to give up the peace and quiet I’ve come to know and love for so many years since my twenty-year-old son last woke me to his final bout of middle of the night tears so many moons ago.

“Yes.” Absolutely. Bring in the troops. I have like 48 eggs left (okay, truth is, research indicates women over 35 have 25,000-90,000 eggs)… so let’s get the show on the road, remember, I’m 43 and counting! Send in the troops at least every other day. Let’s bravely forge ahead, (divide properly) and conquer!

GetPregnant.org