Derbyshire woman who dismissed pregnancy symptoms for perimenopause becomes mum again at age 41

A Derbyshire woman who dismissed her pregnancy symptoms for perimenopause became a mum again at age 41.

Memma Hough, 42, experienced itchy skin, trouble sleeping, and irregular periods - all which she thought were early symptoms of menopause.

The support worker called the doctors after her period, which was always regular, began to come a few days late each month, and her breasts began to increasingly ache, experiencing fever-like symptoms.

But taking a test to check for the "impossible chance" she was pregnant - she was shocked when it came back positive. Memma was six weeks pregnant.

Memma and her husband Dave, 47, a groundworker hadn't wanted to have any more children so they could have a "freer life" and travel but decided to keep their baby boy Makoa, who is now seven months old. They even took their little one to Thailand and now say parenthood is "easier" the second time around.

Memma, from High Peak, said: "I thought after my symptoms I should call the doctor, but I was convinced it was an early menopause.

"It was a big shock, I was absolutely terrified because we have a 22-year-old - and Dave and I both agreed when she was only nine that we would not have any more kids. We wanted to go travelling and have a freer life which is easier when your child is older, but not when you have a newborn. Dave also has arthritis quite bad and so we were a bit worried about how he would hold up with another child.

"Both of us absolutely love parenting at an older age. It is mentally and emotionally better at this age. We are going out, we don't feel like we are missing out because we are at an age where we are happy with early nights and baby cuddles. Also when you have been a mother once before there is a lot more patience around the sleepless nights when the baby cries, because you know how fast this stage goes.

"I never thought I would have another baby - but it has turned out to be the best shock I could ever have asked for."

Not thinking it could be possible she was pregnant, Memma pranked her husband with a text to pretend she was pregnant in November 2024. Before she could text Dave back that she was joking - two lines appeared on the test - and she had to text her husband at work that she was in fact telling the truth.

After deciding to keep the baby, Dave and Memma were planning on keeping the news to themselves, until they could work out a way to tell their older daughter, Tianna, 22. But despite their best efforts to keep the pregnancy a secret, Tianna accidentally found out through her father’s phone - but was thrilled.

Memma said: "Dave had left his phone out, and my daughter had seen on his texts that there was a picture of a positive test - we were really worried how she would react and didn't want her to find out that way.

"But she launched into this massive speech of excitement - and told us she would look after the baby and even try to pick up more work if we needed more money for her keep and running the house.

"She loves our son, totally loves him, and is always playing with him and looking after him, she has been so great."

Memma was told by doctors she has a low lying placenta, and that she would have to have a c-section.

She said: "I was worried for a c-section because Tianna was a natural birth, but honestly if I knew it would be that easy, I probably would have asked for that on my first pregnancy too. The recovery was way easier than expected and I was back walking again after 10 days."

Makoa was born July 10 2025, in the 37th week of pregnancy, and during her eight months maternity leave, the family began to learn to live with a newborn once more.

Memma said: "We had booked a trip to Thailand before I knew we were pregnant, and we took him there. It is so much easier than bringing a toddler because a newborn doesn't wander about and tends to just sleep or look around. We have taken him to the wildlife park near us, we went to soft play, he's gone swimming and even been on boat trips - we love having another member of the family.

"I feel like I have fully adapted to having a baby in the house and it is so much easier the second time around. I know what to do and I am older which helps a lot. We are also converting the shed into a playroom so there is enough space for all of us to comfortably live.

"And people online have been so supportive, I have had loads of women privately message me telling me they have also had babies in their forties. Apparently it is way more common than you'd think it to be - and also in general - there is a lot more positivity surrounding it than you think."