Hello all!

If anyone could help me out, I would be eternally grateful!

I'm writing a paper for my women's studies class, and it pertains to pregnancy in the latter years of fertility, right before menopause generally starts. I'm really wondering what the emotions are when one experiences this; being that I don't know of anyone who has experienced this who I could talk to, I figured my best bet was to reach out to the wonderful people out there in Parenting Magazine's Online Community.

So, if...
  • you know someone who has experienced this
  • you know the husband of someone who has experienced this
  • you know a child of someone who has experienced this
  • or if you just know or heard of a friend of a friend who has experienced this
Any and all information would be really fantastic.


For those who have personally experienced this:
  • When the symptoms started, what did you think was the reason behind them?
  • What made you take a pregnancy test, or see your doctor?
  • What thoughts went through your head when you found it was certain you were expecting?
  • How did you feel when you told your family and friends?
  • What were your family and friends' reactions?

For those who have been close to (or just know of) someone who has experienced this:
  • Was she open and honest about everything, or did she try to be discreet or subdued?
  • How did her husband initially react to the news?
  • How did her husband eventually feel about it?
  • How did her family feel?
  • If she had any kids at the time, how did they react?
  • How did her friends feel when they first found out?
  • What were her friends' eventual feelings about it?
  • How did the parents of her kids' friends react?
  • How did the people who she frequently encountered around the community, etc. respond to the news?

I'd really like to get the sense of feeling and the emotions that are felt from all sides of those affected by a pregnancy. If there are any other thoughts or feelings that I didn't think of asking about, please, PLEASE don't be afraid to mention them.

Thank you all so much, it really means a lot to me.