When having children after 40 and Perimenopause meet
Many wonderful women are having babies in their 40s. This was the case in previous generations, however there is a greater proportion of women having their first child or many of their children, beyond the age of 40.
This is not a commentary on age of first or subsequent child. It is a wonderful thing to see a little one enter the world into a loving family and we are privileged to support many families doing this, at Juno. We cheer and support families bringing little ones into the world in their late 40s and 50s.
We’re not buying into any rhetoric about women and age and what women should or shouldn’t do with their bodies.
Often though, women are surprised with hormonal changes that occur after the birth of their baby and don’t realise how much flux there can be after birth or breastfeeding in your 40s.
Some stats to help understand this context:
The average age of menopause in Australia is 51
To have gone through menopause, an individual, by definition, has not had a period for >12 months. Menopause is considered normal from the age of 45 and early menopause is classified as that which occurs prior to the age of 40.
2. Perimenopause can begin up to 10 years before menopause occurs
A numbers game
This means that slow symptoms of peri- menopause can begin from around the age of 40 or even earlier in some women. If a woman goes through menopause at 45, she may even have symptoms of lower oestrogen start from the age of 35. And this would be considered within the normal range of wellbeing.
If we think of things as a numbers game, the duration of pregnancy/ breastfeeding hormonal changes for one baby, can range from 9 months - years. And this doesn’t include conception or trying to conceive.
By the time one has carried, birthed, fed and weaned their baby over the age of 40, their reproductive age has often progressed 2-3+ years and they can find that their hormones can feel quite different when their periods return, compared to pre-baby.
This can come as quite a surprise, and understandably so when you’ve been through such change within your body and are then realising that more flow and change is occurring.
Postpartum into Perimenopause
This means that if you’re having a bubba over 40, have weaned or had your periods return postpartum and you’re feeling tired or a little off, it’s worth considering perimenopause in the list of things that could need supporting.
Perimenopause symptoms can be occurring even if you have regular periods and normal hormonal blood tests. It’s about the change in your body, not an absolute range.
This also means that awareness is power. You’re worthy of support and there are plenty of options that are breastfeeding friendly that can help if you’re feeling like perimenopause might be affecting you.
It means that we don’t dismiss everything as being “postpartum” and you deserve to have this considered in your medical differential.
It means that having this dialogue is important so that women are empowered in the changes in their own body, and feel less alone knowing that they are experiencing this change like many others.
Perimenopause and menopause are not a taboo
They are also not necessarily an awful time of suffering for all women. We do not desire to drive fear around what is a normal physiological change.
But it is imperative that every woman knows that IF she’s suffering with symptoms affecting her life that this is REAL, and she is deserving of effective care, which is available.
And that seeking this out for changes in your 40s, when your periods return after having had a baby, can be entirely normal.
Next up, we’ll talk about how treatment might be subtly different in the postpartum period if you’re perimenopausal too.
Juno Specialists Redefines Maternal, Women’s and Child Health.
Based in Richmond, Victoria. We bridge the gaps that exist within the current models of maternal, women’s and child healthcare. We bring together the best of modern medicine, progressive forward thinking, evidence-based practices and reclaim sacred ways. Medical + Allied Health, together.
We lead with deeply integrated care. We seek to inform and educate you. We allow time. We honour your autonomy.
We offer comprehensive one-on-one long appointments as standard with compassionate and knowledgeable practitioners. Our GPs also offer Iron Infusions and vaccinations. We provide forward-thinking, solution-creating services - our Breastfeeding Day Stay and Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy Fluid and Support Stay.
We provide:
Juno Specialists is located in Richmond on the banks of Birrarung and is easily accessible from inner eastern, northern Melbourne and beyond. We service all of Melbourne including Kew, Hawthorn, Abbotsford, Fitzroy, Fitzroy North, North Melbourne, Carlton, Burnley, Prahran, Clifton Hill, Brunswick, Coburb, South Yarra, East Melbourne, Northcote, Thornbury, Preston, Fairfield, Ivanhoe, Heidelberg, Toorak, Malvern, Camberwell, Balwyn, Mont Albert, Surrey Hills, Blackburn, Mount Waverley and beyond.
The space within Juno’s walls has been designed for you
A sacred space for you to feel completely supported. We have designed our space specifically with your needs, comfort and accessibility in mind.
We look forward to supporting you.
