New York Magazine reveals a new trend — women in their fifties who are carrying their own children!
Ann Maloney, now 60, has two children — 10-year-old Isabella and 7-year-old Lily. She gave birth to them at age 50 and 52, respectively!
Kate Garros hads twins at age 54. And it doesn’t stop there.
What do you think, HollyMoms? Is 50 too old to have a baby?
anita johnson
Posted at 11:08 AM on March 21, 2012
I am 46,my boyfriend is 49,we are thinking about having a baby,I have not been sexually active for three years,what are the chances of me getting pregnant again? and how dangerous is it at this age? I had a baby at 37 and she is healthy and smart,went to the O.B.G.Y.N and that doctor told me I was able to still have children,but that was three years ago,I still have my period at 46,no sign of the change
leeanne
Posted at 6:03 PM on January 6, 2012
I hear alot of selfish thinking people saying embaressed by older mother? Surely you jest! Older/younger what is the difference as long as the child is loved and cared for, right? Young mothers leave their babies in dumsters in our world today because they can not take care of them and are afraid. Older mothers are not afraid and we hope to have our life together enough to offer many things and much love to a child. I was 41 when I had twins, I lost one, but one survived by a miracle and I love that child with all of my heart and have been thankful to have him. Some people should not worry about society and the stamp of age on us old people we can and do accomplish much comparied to our younger generation who are ecompessed judgments set by societies vision on what is the “Norm”. The “Norm” is not the same as society used to be years ago. In the day and age we live in now, we can all be thankful for modern day science and the ability to live longer and have a fuller healthier life. Congratulations to all older mothers, their is much to be said for their spirit of life and giving nature!!!
Jenna
Posted at 6:17 PM on October 3, 2011
I can understand both sides of this. My mother had me when she was 44. I am currently 23 and she will be turning 68 this December. On a superficial level, it’s a little embarassing to see my mom in comparison to the mothers of my friends/school mates, but my mother is one of the strongest, intelligent women I know and I couldn’t imagine having anyone other than her as my mom. As she gets older it is harder to think about her not being around much longer, and possibly not being around when I have children, but no matter the age, losing a parent is difficult. When I was 12 years old my father passed away of natural causes, and he was only 42. Age isn’t always an indicator of which parent will be around longer. What’s important is that you make the time you have with your parent(s) count because you never know when someone will go.
Frances lester
Posted at 12:17 PM on October 3, 2011
John Ross said he wanted children since ” he felt that he and his first wife hadn’t raised their son, now 35, ‘ the way I thought he should be raised. I wanted to rear a family in a better way.’” what a horrid thing to say and what a devastating thing to read for his son, Matthew. John Ross was a horrid father and now he is being quoted and publicized in a magazine and on the Internet for what? Certainly not his accomplishments, which are non-existent. I think this is a very damaging article and should not have been published with that particular comment. Is it all about the children or about their pompous, pretentious, elitist parents? Shame on new York magazine.
Lily
Posted at 7:03 AM on October 2, 2011
The photo in this article is misleading. The woman looks much older than 50 (or 54 or whatever). Statistically speaking, it is rare for a woman to have a baby using her own eggs at 50, as fertility is statistically zero percent for the general population. (Meaning that only a few rare women can have babies using their own eggs after the age of 50.)
I had my last child at age 40, and I am now 50. I am much more active than the majority of the 20 year old mothers at my child’s school, with only a few exceptions. Up until some 20 something rear ended me a year ago and gave me a bad back, I was roller skating, playing tennis, running races, and otherwise being pretty active with my child. We also have an older child, whose children are older than our youngest.
My middle child had a classmate who lost his father in his 40s from a heart attack. My husband had a heart attack a year earlier, but has lived 16 more years (so far). So, you just never know… The father that died was “age appropriate” while my husband was considered an older father.
The advantage is that we can afford a lot more for the youngest than we ever could for the older children. We make sure to take her places, just like we did with the older children. The difference is that we can afford to go in a 5th wheel camper versus a van with sleeping bags. Or that we can now afford to buy a souvenir at the end of the trip, versus telling the children that we can’t afford it.
My grandmother had her children 20 years apart, and since she lived to be in her 90s, it was only the youngest (who was born when she was 42) that was still healthy enough to travel and see her. My grandmother outlived her oldest child, who died in his 70s.
It is all about living a healthy lifestyle. Younger parents who are unhealthy will die before older parents who are healthy (barring an accident, which can strike at any age).
Based on my grandmothers’ life spans, my youngest should be in her 40s before I die. The bottom line is that you can’t predict the future, so younger parents might die young and older parents might live to a very ripe old age and stay healthy. You can only make the best choices…and older parents who are having children do so because they love children and have a need to have a baby–the same as younger parents who have planned children. I’d much rather be a planned child that was wanted and loved (no matter what the ages of the parents) than an unplanned child who was considered a problem. My parents were the ‘appropriate age’ when they had me, but since I was the unplanned oops that made them get married when they weren’t really suited for each other, then it made for a very turbulent childhood.
trish
Posted at 2:45 AM on October 3, 2011
I am 50 and i have three grandchildren. Years ago when my children were at the juniors, a man of just 30 sat down to dinner with his children of the same age and fell on to the table with a heart attack and died right there. It is swings and roundabouts, but i have concentrated on the time i have with my children and grandchildren, quality comes first.
LindA
Posted at 7:02 PM on September 30, 2011
Today there are many vital, healthy, older adults who would be great candidates as “older parents.” If they keep active and get the proper nutrition and excercise, they often will be more vibrant than their younger counterparts. In the United States, obesity and other problems are killing people of all ages. A person can have both a chronological and physical age. Many in their 50′s are dying prematurely from preventable conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Many in their 70′s and 80′s are not only sexually active, but thriving in health. Parenthood is a priviledge and a sacrifice, but doesn’t necessarily need to be limited to a certain age group to be successful.
Patty
Posted at 4:11 PM on September 30, 2011
No one here is saying they wish they hadn’t been born. I think it’s a matter of people sharing their experiences and why they feel the way the do about parents making such important decisions such as when in life they should have children.
AJ
Posted at 4:14 AM on September 28, 2011
Who cares about the mother, its all about the child. I am a child of older parents who has siblings old enough to be my parent and i much rather had been an accident than a planned baby. My parents are now in their 60′s & 70′s and its unfair. I’m only 24 and already have to worry about nursing homes and the death of my parents, i see them with my nephews and wonder will they ever see my children (which i dont have because i havent met the right person yet). One of my friends has old parents too and she lost her father when she was 25 and he was 72, but she had been visiting him in nursing homes for 3 years after a stroke, her mother is now 75 and has been getting mini heart attacks for the last 6 years and her mind is starting to go – this isnt something a 29 year old should have to deal with. I look at my friend and i know this is stuff i’m going to have to deal with also. So yes our parents thought it was nice to have children that they love, but love wont keep you alive, and your just setting your kids up for lonelyness.
So i have also put a limit of 35 on myself if i havent had children by that age then i will adopt older children not babies, that way it would be as if i had my children in my late 20′s.
Mandy
Posted at 11:36 AM on September 28, 2011
I’m really glad we got to hear your perspective. You are right it is all about the child. It is so hard to lose parents in your 20′s. I’m 26 and I have no parents or grandparents. In fact the only family I have is my sister who I’m not close with. It’s so hard going through life with no elders. You don’t take advantage of their experience and knowledge when you’re a teen and then when you are really in need of them they are gone.
jane
Posted at 10:22 PM on September 28, 2011
My friend’s father was 70 when she was born and he was a fabulous father who had a profound impact. I don’t think she would have given him up for a younger father for anything.
robbie
Posted at 10:25 PM on September 28, 2011
Unfortunately, the things you point out are also things that young people with young parents have to deal with. When you’re in your 20s and your parents are in their early 50s they still suffer from strokes, heart attacks, cancer, early onset Alzheimers, a variety of other illnesses and that’s before accidents. I’ve known people in their 90s healthier and more capable than adults in their 40s.
Olivia
Posted at 12:01 AM on September 29, 2011
I can understand why having older parents is hard but then would you rather have just NOT been born? How can you be angry at your parents for giving you life?
Lila
Posted at 8:51 PM on October 1, 2011
None of us are guaranteed parents that will live until we have successfully achieved all the things we have sought. It is selfish if you believe that caring for parents is a burden after they most likely spent every moment from your birth caring for you.
mahajanssen
Posted at 3:58 AM on October 2, 2011
My husband’s parents had him when they were in their 40s. No doubt that his was an accident but it still wasn’t nice for him to finally have his family when he hit 30 only for them to have to enter the nursing homes at the same time. His parents cannot even give him the emotional support they did because their frail health, mental and physical, makes the generation gaps even wider and harder to deal with. He takes it in his stride but I feel badly for both him and our daughter that they don’t get to enjoy having their parents/grandparents around at a time when they should be. My daughter especially is losing out on having grandparents who are invested in her because they aren’t strong enough to do anything other than watch TV together. It would be alright if there were a few others in her shoes but she’s the only one in her school with grandparents who are in their 80s. I know I can’t fill the void and I try not to so best I can do is love her to death. Hopefully, it will be subtle compensation.
amilie
Posted at 5:25 AM on October 4, 2011
This is such a bizarre comment…
Lee
Posted at 12:56 PM on October 2, 2011
I know several people who lost their parent(s) while in their 20s…& said parents were only in their 40s/early 50s. On the other side, my 2 aunts are in their 90s & still going strong! People die in accidents & through illness at ANY age, so where’s the guarantee here?? It IS all about the children – giving them all the love, care, stability, & security you can, WHILE you can. No one knows when they’ll die. It’s only been since the advent of effective birth control (1960s) that women stopped routinely having kids right up until menopause, so what’s the issue??
Gina Marie
Posted at 8:31 PM on October 2, 2011
Lee, couldn’t have said it better myself…I recently got divorced at age 37, and if I meet a man that I love and he and I want to have a child together, even if it takes 10 years, I will. I have friends who lost a parent in their twenties. Those parents were in their forties or early fifties. There are no guarantees in life. I don’t believe anybody has the right to tell another person how to make a very personal choice like this.
Liz
Posted at 6:09 PM on October 3, 2011
I think it all depends on the person. Not every 50 year old is “old” if you get what I mean. Also, I’d like to add that my best friend is 29 and she lost her her 53 year old mother to cancer, so just cause you have children young, does not guarantee you’ll be around to watch them grow. :(
lydia
Posted at 6:25 PM on September 27, 2011
one word—-stupid——————————–
Jean
Posted at 4:35 PM on September 27, 2011
The odds of having of child with disease or disability increase dramatically over 40 for both men and women. Having a child much later than 40 is irisponsible and selfish whether you are male or female. If you want to have a child late in life, adopt!!!
Bustyachops
Posted at 8:12 PM on September 27, 2011
Sorry, you’re so uninformed. What the article isn’t saying is that these women are not having children with their own eggs! At forty, a woman’s chance of even conceiving is less than 20%. The children born to these elderly women are from the eggs of women in their twenties. As for adoption, if you’ve ever been through the process, you’d know that they are considered too old for adoption. Again, while I think 50s and 60s is too old to have a baby, 40 is NOT that old. It’s no more irresponsible (this is the correct spelling btw) than the 16 year-old or the twenty-five year old with no way to support the child. Selfishness doesn’t discriminate.
Mandy
Posted at 9:51 PM on September 27, 2011
For some reason I can’t reply to your other comment regarding having a child as a friend. Nowhere in any of my comments did I say anything about being my child’s friend. I am his parent. It’s my job to raise him to be a productive member of society and I take my job very seriously. I obviously know I’m not the norm. I went to a teen mom support group for years. Now most of those women are on welfare, drug addicts, and a couple don’t even have custody of their children. Also I see nothing wrong with my husband working 6 days a week. That is ridiculous. My son is very lucky that his Dad works, comes home every night and I get to stay home with him. That doesn’t mean I in any way advocate teen pregnancy because I do not. I was just stating that I like the fact that I will get to spend many more years with my son than if I had him at 50.
Sally
Posted at 12:46 PM on September 27, 2011
So many of you are forgetting that women way before birth control, could get pregnant into their 50′s. I would imagine a women who chooses to have a child in her 50′s takes good care of herself and is fit. There is no doubt we don’t have as much energy as we grow older BUT MANY do. I know many women in their 50′s and they do more than a lot of 30 year olds. As far as not being around to see the child grow up is not a given at any age! People die at all ages so just because you have your kids young, does not mean your gonna see them grow up. There are more chances of complications because of age but the prenatal care is so good today. If the people involved are ready to deal with everything it takes to raise a child (going thru all those years of school again!) then I say good luck. Oh and get a good hair colorist so you can dye your hair every six weeks!
Tim
Posted at 8:52 AM on September 27, 2011
At 50, you better have a good exit strategy if you’re raising a child for the first time.
sASHA
Posted at 3:33 AM on September 27, 2011
If she is 60, that’s even WORSE. What makes people do this? Does she think that she will be able to suddenly adjust to having a baby at that age? OMG, this world is just too much for me to understand. I know it is medically possible, but that doesn’t mean that it should happen. The poor child will have to keep telling everyone it’s not his grandmother or great-grandmother, and most likely, someone else will end up raising this child. Or if not raising the child,the parents will only live until the child is 20. How selfish, selfish, selfish and sad!
Mandy
Posted at 11:27 AM on September 27, 2011
Yes SELFISH is the only way to describe this! It certainly isn’t in the child’s best interest!! I had my son at 16 and while it certainly isn’t for everybody, it was good for us. I get to spend sooo long with my son and I understand him. He is always saying he loves how I’m young because I relate to him, know how to dress him, I play with him and all that fun stuff. I don’t think we would be out riding the quads and playing football if I had him when I was 60.. I’d be worried about breaking a hip! LOL
November
Posted at 1:29 PM on September 27, 2011
And having a child at 16 is something you are proud of? You were not even old enough to buy a lottery ticket LOL! Teenagers are one type of parent…older parents have MORE to offer! Knowledge, security, money and the ability to be there completely- we don’t need to run off to high school!
If men can create babies and are given medical help to do so thru Viagra…how is a woman having a baby late in life-due to medical intervention- any different? Although the risk to the child remain equal..as in poor quality sperm for him…aging uterus for her… He suffers no medical consequence (except a possible heart attack) well into his 80′s.
Why should women limit themselves when the technology is there? It is pretty limited as it is to the wealthy! If I could afford it, I would do the same! Not even yet into my 50′s (but close) I can’t conceive. I have two sons in their 20′s and now am with the love of my life. THAT’S what happens! Life moves on, You marry, have kids..THEN find love! I would love to have a child with my guy and he would LOVE to have one with me! We want to have that connection! We would both be far better parents now than when we where in the *viable* age!
Mandy
Posted at 1:49 PM on September 27, 2011
I didn’t say I am proud of the fact that I had my child at 16. I said it’s not for everybody but it worked out for us. I wouldn’t change a thing. And also what does being able to buy a lotto ticket have to do with being a good parent? That’s absurd. I didn’t have to run off to high school. I did home study and found it pretty easy. We have plenty of security and money I LOL at the fact that you think only old people have this. Now 10 years later we are about to pay off our home, all of our vehicles are payed off, we have a boat, camper, quads, college saving account for my son… I could go on and on. My point isn’t to brag but to prove you wrong. If a teenage parent is dedicated to their child and family, they can provide just as much as an older parent. I’m a stay at home mom and my husband works 6 days a week to provide for us. If you want to blow the dust off your dried up eggs and try to have a baby when you’re old that’s your choice. Don’t expect your child to be happy about it.
Bustyachops
Posted at 8:06 PM on September 27, 2011
There are a few things that are quite disturbing about your post. First, I agree that 50s and 60s are too old for women to have children. Raising a kid is hard work. However, having your child as your “friend” is just as bad. Most of the children in juvenile detention or jail have young mothers– mothers who were too immature to have them. These posts contain so many superficial remarks about the kid’s parent being called grandmother, instead of mom. Big deal. What is more important is a child who is brought up by loving, stable parents, not ones who are trying to relive their missed childhood. You are the parent first, not his BFF. Older parents tend to be more financially-stable, thus actually having the opportunity to see their children grow up and not missing that time because they have to work 6 days a week or two jobs. I commend you for what you’re doing to help raise your children, but sadly, you ain’t the norm.
November
Posted at 8:34 PM on September 27, 2011
You are so full of it!
Sasha
Posted at 3:26 AM on September 27, 2011
EW! That woman looks SIXTY!!!!!! I’m 59 and I look a hell of a lot younger than her. WHY would anyone have a child at this age? Some women are GRANDMOTHERS at age 40! I think it’s ridiculous. How much energy will she have when the child is born? I had my first child at 25 and my 4th at 33 and noticed A HUGE change in my energy level. Just because you CAN have a child at that age now does not mean it is right. I remember when my oldest child was waiting ot walk into his Kindergarten room on the first day of school, there were some other children waiting with their mothers and us, too. One of the little boys pointed to one of the MOTHERS and said to the child, “Is that your grandma?” And I knew that mother, and she was FORTY!
hannah
Posted at 11:30 PM on September 26, 2011
She isn’t 54 people. She is 60. Learn how to read.
Cutie134
Posted at 10:19 PM on September 26, 2011
WAY to old. My best friends mom was old when she had her, and could never truely enjoy her. My friend always had to lie to her parents about haveing boyfriends and where she was going and ect. because her parents didnt understand why she would want to do what she does. On the other hand, my mom was 18 when she had me and she is my bestfriend. She understands wat its like to be young, and most of my friends are closer to my mom then there moms.
Athena
Posted at 8:43 PM on September 26, 2011
Many WOMEN, please spell correctly
MISSY
Posted at 4:19 PM on September 26, 2011
Yes, of course it is!!!! The chance of the baby being retarded or deformed or having other problems is very high! Why not adopt if you want a child at that age?
Also the woman in this photo is not just 54 yrs old. She is at least in her late sixties, or has had a verrrrry rough life!!!!!!!!!!
nutri
Posted at 4:36 PM on September 26, 2011
.She looks like 70+
JJ
Posted at 3:28 PM on September 26, 2011
She’s a hell of a lot older than 54!!!!!!!!
Marina
Posted at 2:43 PM on September 26, 2011
Oh my oh my this woman doesn’t look anything like a 54 year old! My MOM is 54, she has no wrinkles and no grey hair. This woman srsl looks like she’s 70?!
Mandy
Posted at 3:16 PM on September 26, 2011
I know right!? She just looks freaky!!! Pregnancy is supposed to make you glow and look happy and full. This woman looks like she has one foot in the grave!
nutri
Posted at 4:33 PM on September 26, 2011
absolutely
puckersbabe
Posted at 5:13 PM on September 26, 2011
LMAO!!!! Thats so true!
alexandria
Posted at 12:25 PM on September 26, 2011
no to old
Mandy
Posted at 11:27 AM on September 26, 2011
Yes it is way too old!!!!!! Think of the poor children. Someone in my family had a child at age 45. People always assume it’s her grandchild. The father was 50 when this child was born. They will be lucky to see her graduate high school! They never play with her, take her anywhere because they are old and tired! It’s absolutely crazy. There are reasons women can’t have children naturally after a certain age!
Alli
Posted at 12:39 PM on September 26, 2011
are you kidding me right now? the parents are 45 and 50 and you’re saying they’ll be lucky to see the child graduate high school? that’s the stupidest thing i’ve ever heard. people these days are living into their 80s and 90s, easily. the average age is above 70. these parents will most likely see their children married and have grandchildren, unless the parents have some disease of some sort. in that case, that’s a whole other issue.
Mandy
Posted at 3:13 PM on September 26, 2011
No I’m not kidding. I know from EXPERIENCE that this is not good for the child. The people I’m speaking of have 3 grown children and they have to pretty much care for the child because the parents are too old to do it. Wouldn’t every parent want to spend as long as they can with their child? No but they want to “live their lives” and wait until they are seniors to have kids. Then the kids have to constantly explain no that’s my mom not my grandma. The parents cannot relate to the children at all because they aren’t of a different generation they are like 3 generations behind! Like I said, there is a reason why nature doesn’t let women have children after a certain age! Just because you can now with technology doesn’t mean you should.
puckersbabe
Posted at 5:20 PM on September 26, 2011
I have to agree with you on this Mandy. I have a friend whose father is really old and growing up, he couldnt do all the stuff that he wanted to do, like play ball. He also had to tell people over and over that this is his dad, not grandpa. It sucked for him, Im sure. Honestly, even if you can, you are looking at higher rates of down syndrome and so much more. How can you truly enjoy a baby/child when you are that old? Think of what a newborn is like, needing to eat every 2 hours, being awake for long periods of time, not getting enough sleep. What are they thinking??? And Alli, I hate to tell you this, but ANYTHING can happen to the most healthiest person! My Mom passed away from asthma at 58, and my Dad of natural causes at 61. Don’t sit there and tell me that people live into their 70′s, because more often than not, it’s not realistic.
Mandy
Posted at 5:46 PM on September 26, 2011
Yes those are exactly the things I’m talking about. Also, my Dad passed away at 56 when I was only 23. So unfortunately I also know from experience that anything can happen.
Danielle
Posted at 6:02 AM on April 6, 2012
I totally understand its selfish in the mums n dads having kids at that age as the child will suffer x
IUMom
Posted at 4:00 PM on September 27, 2011
I’m a 47 year old mom to a 21 year old and a 5 year old. My husband is 54 and we’re both as active with him as we were with my daughter. He has friends and playdates, many with children of younger parents, and some are only children. He’s a healthy, happy kindergartener, with a big sister who’s a senior in college. He wasn’t planned (anniversary trip to Key West with lots of rum may be the culprit), but he sure is wanted and loved, and I don’t think he’d trade us in for younger models (:
Mandy
Posted at 4:42 PM on September 27, 2011
I hope you both live to be very old and are with him for a very long time. For me personally I have set age 35 for myself to be done having babies. Also having a baby by “surprise” at 42 is a world away from purposefully having a baby at 60.
Sarah
Posted at 9:35 PM on September 27, 2011
Mandy, I can understand some of your views for people who are purposefully and medically getting pregnant but she said it was natural and the result of a lot of rum on vacation. I suppose you would have her abort and put the child out to adoption simply because of her age. You are clearly young and will get it when you have a lot more life under your belt. You talk like most young people. One dimensional view of the world based solely on “your” experiences. Live a little longer and you’ll see you are not always right.
Mandy
Posted at 9:54 PM on September 27, 2011
Wow, way to jump to strange conclusions. Maybe you should re-read what I wrote. I said “having a baby by “surprise” at 42 is a world away from purposefully having a baby at 60″. Meaning I think it’s totally different and I also wished her a long life. Also I don’t think you can abort a child and put it up for adoption. You seem confused all around.
Courtney
Posted at 11:17 AM on September 26, 2011
no I don’t think 54 is too old to have a child there was a morning news anchor that had twins at about that age like 10 years ago
Robert
Posted at 8:08 PM on May 19, 2013
The woman in the photo looks over 70 ! The photo in this article is misleading!!!. The photo in this article is misleading.
Labellah Imam
Posted at 11:36 AM on March 27, 2012
I’am a RN and has been 5 years. The older a pregnant mother is, the higher are her risks of developing hypertension, diabetes and some other illnesses during gestation. Some illnesses, acquired by the older mother during pregnancy, could undermine the health of her child. Therefore, it would be fair to say that the chances of the baby having a health problem are greater. Not saying that every baby with a older parent will be born with every health issue but the chances are they will be greater.