Here’s some breaking news for you: Janet is pregnant!
GOTCHA!
No, not me, sorry to burst your bubble (that train left the station a long time ago).
The buzz is that Janet Jackson – who has just turned 50 – is expecting her first child.
Middle Aged Pregnancy – a Growing Trend!
Now I’m not sure if the rumours are true or not. But it does seem to be a growing trend – middle aged pregnancy!
There are many reasons why women are having children later in life than ever before. Waiting to start a family might be a conscious decision (eg wanting to be financially secure, travel, establish a career), or simply the way life turns out (eg when you haven’t met the right partner, or there are fertility issues). Although we all know female fertility decreases with age, it does seem that our longer life expectancy, and improved health and nutrition, have made middle aged pregnancy a much more viable option than it was in the past.
The Statistics on Middle Aged Pregnancy
In fact, statistics show that there are now more women in their 40’s giving birth than teenagers!
Famous examples of older first-time mums (showing us how good middle aged pregnancy can look) include Halle Berry, Salma Hayek, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Marcia Cross, Geena Davis, and Molly Ringwald.
Even Australia’s own Nicole Kidman gave birth to her first child at age 41, while the stylish Sonia Kruger welcomed her first baby last year, when she was 49. So it seems middle aged women having babies is not such an anomaly after all. Although personally, I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to have a baby now – with a 22 year old son and 19 year old daughter!
This is much more likely but not for a few years yet I hope!
But bearing this information in mind, I just might have to re-think what I post on this here blog 😉 . Although *I* might be fashioning a new life now the kids are grown, and enjoying travel, building my business, lmore freedom, and all the other joys of the half empty nest, that isn’t necessarily the case for *all* middle aged women.
So I must remember to be more inclusive of those women who may very well be in their forties, but are still in the thick of the school run – or even experiencing pregnancy, nappies and night-time feedings!
How old were you when you had your first baby? How would you feel about a middle aged pregnancy if it happened to you?!
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