I’ve been pregnant every decade of my adult life – in my twenties, thirties, forties and fifties (Picture: Kate Skelton and Jacqueline Edwards)
‘It’s never too late to become a mother,’ Naomi Campbell wrote on Instagram, after sharing the news of her son’s birth.
It’s something I 100% agree with, having become a parent again in my fifties.
And now This Morning star Emma Kenny has revealed that she has given birth at 50 to a little girl.
I totally understand the desire to have a baby in your fifties. In fact, I would say that it’s much easier than having one in your twenties.
See, I’ve been pregnant every decade of my adult life – in my twenties, thirties, forties and fifties.
I was 27 when I had my first son, Corey, and 36 when I had my second, Luke. Since I turned 40, I’ve had three girls – Lila at 40, Maya at 45 and Freya at 50.
The truth is, I’ve found raising a child at 50 much easier than in my twenties. I’m more confident, wiser, laidback and patient – and I don’t sweat the small stuff.
I am sure both Campbell’s children are very loved and well cared for and that is all that matters (Picture: Getty /Naomi Campbell / Instagram)
I’ve raised all five of my children on my own (Picture: Jacqueline Edwards)
In my twenties, I struggled making the transition from doing what I wanted, when I wanted, to being totally responsible for keeping a tiny human alive.
Corey, now 25, was an unplanned pregnancy and a shock to my system – it was the first time I’d ever had broken sleep night after night, and I missed my freedom.
Now, I’m used to being tired! I don’t want to be out partying or travelling, so I’m more present – and a better mum as a result.
While it’s still considered unusual for a woman to have a baby at 50 or above, more and more women are giving birth in their forties.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show the number of births to women over 40 now exceeds births to those under 20.
After Corey, I didn’t feel my family was complete and I wanted to add to it. I felt the need to have another child – but I was single so sought out a sperm donor.
I’ve raised all five of my children on my own (four were conceived with sperm donors) and I don’t regret a thing.
While I’d always imagined being in a loving relationship when I had children, so many couples split up down the line. My children are not from a broken home, it’s always been just me and them – and I don’t think I would have been any better off raising them with a partner.
Emma kept her pregnancy a secret (Picture: emmakennytv/Instagram / REX)
I’ve found raising a child at 50 much easier than in my twenties (Picture: Jacqueline Edwards)
There will be plenty of people who judge Naomi and Emma, because of their ages. Reading people’s comments online, I can see this judgement.
People have an issue that they will be 70 when the child is 20 but others are wishing them well. I also know this because I faced judgement for my decision to give birth at 50.
My mum told me she’d heard others speaking negatively about my choices.
What particularly irks me is society’s double standards and hypocrisy when it comes to men becoming fathers at an older age. Women are judged as being too old, selfish and an embarrassment to their children but men are not.
Robert de Niro has just welcomed his seventh child at 79, while Al Pacino is expecting his fourth at 83, but it’s almost like ‘good on them’ instead of negativity when it comes to older dads.
Obviously they can physically father a child, but surely the same issues that apply to older mothers will apply to them too – such as potentially not being as physically active, or perhaps not being alive for a large part of their children’s lives?
My children are not from a broken home, it’s always been just me and them (Picture: Kate Skelton)
I’ve always believed that you’re only as old as you feel. I am fit, healthy and I have a lot of energy – I know women who are 10 years younger than me, yet act a decade older.
I’ve never really cared what people think of me, and I’m not about to start now.
The only opinion that matters to me is my kids, and they don’t care how old I am – they only see a mum they love, who loves them fiercely in return.
When you want something so strongly, it outweighs any negativity from others.
As told to Kate Skelton.
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Four of my children were via sperm donor, and I’ve raised all five of them by myself.