Here’s What It’s Like to Give Birth at an Advanced Maternal Age

On Tuesday, it was announced that Janet Jackson had given birth at age 50 to her first child, a boy named Eissa. Jackson’s pregnancy falls into a category that was formerly called “geriatric pregnancy,” and is now dubbed “advanced maternal age.” And although Jackson’s age falls on the far end of the spectrum, the term actually describes any pregnancy in a woman older than 35, says Mumsnet.

So how is it to give birth at an advanced maternal age? Not as bad as it may sound, hearteningly. Of course, any pregnancy over the age of 35 comes with the increased risk of complications — muscular dystrophy, Tay-Sachs disease, genetic abnormalities like Down’s syndrome, blood disorders like sickle cell disease, and miscarriages are more likely, according to the Mayo Clinic. But the site assures hopeful mothers that “it’s worth remembering that the same [complications can happen] if you are overweight, underweight, have a family history of complications … the list goes on. It’s worth being aware of the increased risk factors, but try not to let it dominate your thoughts: there is every chance all will be well.”

The pregnancy itself can also be more taxing on a woman older than 40. Fatigue and lack of energy are common. But Mumsnet points out the positives too, saying, “With age also comes experience, independence, and more stability. Don’t be disheartened by the naysayers, or put off by some of the statistics. The vast majority of women becoming mothers in their forties have no problems at all and most wouldn’t change what they did if they had their time over.”

Mumsnet also notes that pregnant women older than 40 have a higher chance of having twins “due to the presence of the hormone FSH, which is produced as fertility declines. Being pregnant with multiples means moms-to-be will also have more doctor’s appointments and more careful monitoring.”

One mom on the site wrote, “I am 43 and pregnant with my first and my husband is 50. Waiting this long was right for us financially but also emotionally … somehow we just weren’t ready before. I have been very careful to keep myself in good condition and that seems to have been particularly important to the success (so far) of the pregnancy. The prospect of actually having and bringing up the little one doesn’t really worry me. It will be loved and cherished and if I get tired… well, that’s part of the journey.”

But you don’t have to take the Mumsnet community’s word for it. Head over to Reddit, where you’ll find a slew of unbiased stories from moms who gave birth after 35 and after 40. In one message board, a Redditor wrote, “Im 40 and pregnant with my first. Everyone jokes that hell must have frozen over… Seventh sign of the apocalypse… Yadda yadda. Im 32wks3 days and all is well!!!”. And, in comforting a Redditor who worried she was too old at 38 to get pregnant, another user wrote, “I’m 38 and due next week with my first. While 38 is older, by no means is it over the hill for having a baby! The majority of women I know did not start having kids until after 35. You’ll be fine :),” while another commented, “My mom had my sister when she was 40, you are not that old at all. My sister is a vibrant, outgoing 12 year old now, perfectly healthy. You will be fine.”

And these mothers aren’t all getting IVF — some are occurring naturally. One Redditor wrote, “I just turned 41 and feel so flipping old. I lost a previous pregnancy to Trisomy 18 four years ago and just couldn’t really bear to try again. This was a happy little accident and we’re both thrilled,” to which another woman responded, “I’m 35 and was told by my doc that I am ‘advanced maternal age.’ Yeah. Someone grab us our walkers! LOL.”

As for giving birth at 50, like Jackson — or even older — it’s not unheard of. According to Business Insider, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that more women over age 50 are having babies than ever before. “A total of 677 US women over the age of 50 gave birth in 2013, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Vital Statistics Report,” the site said.

And as for Jackson, she seems to have had a great experience, though we may never truly know what complications she faced. But according to People, a representative of the star confirmed, “Janet had a stress-free healthy delivery and is resting comfortably.”

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