The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsIf all goes well, a grandbaby will be arriving in August!
A first for me, a third for my previously-married husband. I had our kids late, at 38 and 41, and will be 75 in April.
On Christmas Day, our younger son and his adorable wife surprised us with the announcement that they are expecting their first child. They are 33 and 31, and have been married for 3 years. We had absolutely no idea that they were even close to being ready for this, so were completely shocked.
They did it in a cute way. We were at her parents' house, which has been the custom for the last 5 years since they became an official couple. They gave us a calendar and said that their favorite picture was the one for August. We flipped to that page and did not notice right away that in the square for August 22nd, in orange marker, our DIL's favorite color, she had written "Baby (our last name) Due Date." I'm sure my eyes must have about popped out of my head. I burst into tears.
I'm excited and terrified all at the same time. Due to a career in pediatrics, I know all too well all the things that can go wrong. In nursing school, we were all looking forward to our OB class, thinking, "Oh, moms and babies. This is going to be fun!" Not so much. The instructors spent the first 6 weeks lecturing about all the potential complications, and most of us temporarily vowed that we were never going to have kids.
I know I will not draw an easy breath until this baby arrives safely. NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) lab test drawn this week, so we will know more in a couple of weeks. They do plan to find out the gender and will tell us.
Fla Dem
(27,504 posts)CaliforniaPeggy
(156,344 posts)Try not to worry if you can. Remember that most babies come into the world and do just fine.
I am really thrilled for you.
debm55
(58,239 posts)MIButterfly
(2,368 posts)This is wonderful news. I'm so happy for you and your family!
I wish you all the best and can't wait to hear all about Grandbaby in August!
greatauntoftriplets
(178,718 posts)Figarosmom
(10,626 posts)StarryNite
(12,057 posts)What a fun creative way to let you know!
LoisB
(12,609 posts)HeartsCanHope
(1,567 posts)Hope that all goes well!
KitFox
(519 posts)forward to that day in August when you post your experience of holding your first precious grandbaby. Thank you for sharing your exciting news!😊🩷
mercuryblues
(16,266 posts)NNadir
(37,602 posts)...I was in my 40s.
I would have been a terrible father if I'd become one in my 20s or even my 30s.
For the record, lots of things did go wrong with the birth of my first son. Both he and my wife had serious complications.
That young man is now in his early 30s, falling in love with a wonderful young woman.
All the anxiety, the surgeries, etc, are distant memories. It all came out wonderfully in the end. You may not have seen this when on the delivery and post natal care firing line, that despite the hardships in the early days, it can all work out and bring lots of joy and happiness over the longer term. It's what my wife and I experienced.
You probably know this, having been an older parent. Having an infant when you are older is certainly more physically demanding than it might be for a younger person, but the maturity one has developed makes it much easier to parent with the required wisdom and patience.
Congrats to your family. It is sure to be wonderful. I admire the creativity of the announcement by the way. It indicates they'll be fun and wonderful parents.
3catwoman3
(28,944 posts)
jobs in nursing, had my masters degree, and lived in Japan for 2 years while in the Air Force. In other words, I had my own stuff done and was ready to devote myself to the.care and nurturing a new human needs. Nothing felt like a sacrifice, nor did I feel like I was missing out on anything by being immersed in the full time demands of parenting. I reveled in it.
So, I know exactly what you mean.
NNadir
(37,602 posts)I am sure you will be a wonderful grandmother.
I will not live long enough, I expect to be a grandfather, so I'll share your joy vicariously.
3catwoman3
(28,944 posts)My dad lived until 90 and my mom about 4 months shy of 99, so it seems Ive got some longevity genes. I hope you do, too.
Ive been scouring DU, looking for members who were heartless, and have given all mine too people who had none. Ive been wondering what to do with my one remaining heart. Im giving it to you.
NNadir
(37,602 posts)some_of_us_are_sane
(2,917 posts)ENJOY!
Laffy Kat
(16,908 posts)I, too, was a "geriatric" mom, having my first at 36 and the second at 40. I worked for a neonatologist during both pregnancies. Yes, I was a nervous wreck both times, even though the doc kept reminding me that less than two percent of births require a neonatologist. So, you know, keep it in perspective. Chances are extremely likely, your DIL will have a perfectly normal pregnancy and birth. Enjoy this time.
3catwoman3
(28,944 posts)How about mature mother?
