Infertility
Celebrities Who Had Babies Over 50
March 12, 2024
Last updated:
September 27, 2024
The average age that women in the U.S. give birth is now at 27.3 years old. Depending on where you live, and who you hang out with, that might sound really young. People living in metropolitan cities, like NYC or LA, tend to have children later in life. And for most highly educated women, motherhood doesn’t start until the 30s.
But we’re starting to hear more and more from families that are being started well into someone's 40s, and even 50s. In fact, in 2022, 10,553 women aged 45-54 had babies. Advancements in medical technology like donor egg IVF and surrogacy, changing societal norms, and a desire to build a family later in life are all contributing to this trend.
Celebrities who had children over 50
Amidst the growing trend of families embracing parenthood later in life, numerous celebrities have chosen to embark on similar journeys. Here’s a list of some of the high-profile parents who expanded their families after 50.
- Janet Jackson (50): The pop icon surprised fans in 2017 when she welcomed her first child, son Eissa Al Mana, at the age of 50.
- Hoda Kotb (52 & 56): The beloved 'Today Show' host adopted her daughters Haley Joy and Hope Catherine after turning 50, inspiring countless people with her journey to motherhood.
- Michelle Pfeiffer (50): The ageless beauty adopted her son John Henry with her husband David E. Kelley in 1993 when she was 50.
- Diane Keaton (50): The iconic actress chose adoption to build her family, welcoming daughter Dexter in 1996 and son Duke in 2001, both over the age of 50.
- Naomi Campbell (50): The supermodel surprised the world in 2021 with the announcement of her daughter's birth.
- George Clooney (56): The once-perennial bachelor surprised many when he and wife Amal Clooney welcomed twins Ella and Alexander in 2017.
- Mick Jagger (73): The Rolling Stones frontman has an impressive brood of eight children, his youngest born in 2016 when he was 73.
- Sophie B. Hawkins (50): The singer of the iconic hit "Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover" became a first-time mom when she welcomed daughter Esther Ballantine Hawkins in 2015.
- Brigitte Nielsen (54): The Danish model and actress had her fifth child, daughter Frida, in 2018.
These celebrities remind us that there's no single "right" timeline for family building. Some, like Hoda Kotb and Michelle Pfeiffer, chose the path of adoption. Others, like Halle Berry and Nicole Kidman, utilized surrogacy. What remains constant is the underlying principle that parenthood flourishes from love and commitment, regardless of the path chosen to fulfill that desire.
Getting pregnant in your 50s
An unassisted pregnancy after age 45 is extremely rare, and even with IVF, the chances of getting pregnant with your own eggs at 45 is just 5% (it’s 1% at age 50). Getting pregnant after 45 generally means someone used frozen eggs (either from their younger self, or from an egg donor).
Is there an age limit for IVF with donor eggs?
Technically, there is no age limit (legal or otherwise) in the United States for pursuing IVF with or without donor eggs. But ASRM discourages IVF for women older than 55, and some clinics set their own age limits for patients they will treat.
For women over 45 years old, ASRM advises:
- “Comprehensive” medical testing for cardiovascular and metabolic fitness to ensure the safety of the mother and baby during pregnancy
- Psychosocial evaluation to determine if support is in place to raise a child to adulthood
- Counseling patients on potential increased medical risks related to pregnancy
For families using donor eggs and a surrogate, ASRM would advise that the family undergo psychological evaluation to ensure the parents are equipped to raise the child at an older-than-average age.
Supporting mothers of all ages
There is no age limit for men having children and there is no maximum age for US domestic adoption – so why is there an age restriction put on mothers via egg donation? Generally, these restrictions are for her own health during pregnancy.
All pregnancies have risks, and pregnancy after 50 is no exception. One small study followed 45 healthy mothers ages 50-63 who used donor eggs, and found that 35% experienced pregnancy-related hypertension (high blood pressure), 20% experienced gestational diabetes, and 78% had a cesarean section. These numbers are higher than the general population.
But what if a gestational carrier (surrogate) carries the donor egg pregnancy? Then the argument turns to the ability to parent.
ASRM lays out some compelling arguments in favor of donor egg IVF for women over 45:
- Older people (grandparents) raise children all the time in our society, and successfully at that. So there’s no reason to think older parents wouldn’t have the physical and psychological stamina for raising children.
- Older men often have children, and there is no set age limit for males in IVF. So why create limits for women?
- Our society respects the rights of individuals to make reproductive choices regardless of age or life expectancy. For example, we don’t ban someone with a terminal illness from becoming a parent. So why stop someone else because of their age?
Considerations when having children later in life
The decision to have children later in life comes with its own set of considerations. While advancements in medicine have made pregnancy safer for older mothers, it's important to consult with your doctor to assess individual risks and health factors. Additionally, having a strong support system in place and realistic expectations about parenthood are crucial for success.
What are the advantages to being an older parent?
Some benefits that have been cited by older parents include: having established careers with financial security, and flexibility with their time, emotional preparedness, committed relationships, and a positive overall family experience.
One study found that children born to older men - men who had higher than average paternal age - are more likely to have a high IQ and are more likely to achieve educational success, which leads to a stronger socioeconomic status which can lead to a better quality of life.
Another study found that aging sperm might actually produce children with longer telomeres that protect DNA while being copied, which is linked to longevity for not one, but two generations of offspring. So your child and their child might live a longer life.
Harvard scientist Ellen Langer, who studies how the mind influences the body, found that older first-time mothers are often healthier as they age than women who have their first children younger, perhaps because they are spending their time with younger women at playgrounds and preschools.
A 2016 University of Southern California study examined a group of over 800 women between the ages of 41 and 92. Researchers found that women who had their last baby after 35 had better cognition and verbal memory later in life than those who first became parents at a younger age. So there is a protective factor when it comes to mental acuity.
A 2016 Danish study found that older mothers were more adept at setting boundaries with their kids, and were less likely to yell at and harshly punish them, leading to fewer behavioral, social, and emotional difficulties down the road. They also had less anxiety during pregnancy, had more stable relationships, and were in better shape financially. Researchers studied 462 women and found that women who had their last child after 33 were more likely to live to 95. In fact, they have twice the chance to live to 95 or older than those who had their last child before their 30th birthday.
Read more in Am I Too Old to Become a Parent?
What are the disadvantages of being an older parent?
Some disadvantages that have been cited by older parents include: the unexpected difficulty in conceiving that culminated in the use of IVF and resulted in a smaller family than desired, lack of energy for parenting, less available lifetime to spend with children, and anticipated stigma as older parents.
Sometimes feeling, looking, and acting young is not the same as being young. And sometimes age is more than just a number. Think about your energy levels in your 20s. Now compare that to your energy levels now - which may be one, two, or three decades later. Chances are, it just isn’t the same. Because of this, older parents find it difficult to keep up with their younger children - who by the way - may be four or five decades younger. Let’s face it, as we age, we can slow down, we can get tired, and parenting can become more difficult.
Becoming a parent at an older age also means learning how to become more flexible and adaptable in thinking and behavior. And that can be especially difficult the older you get if you are someone who is set in your ways, has your routines, or likes things to be a certain way. Your pristine home? Your morning pilates or your weekly happy hour with friends? That will all change. Things will be different. And for some, even though all they have ever wanted was to be a parent, these changes and disruptions in their everyday life can be an extreme source of stress and anguish.
If you are between the ages of 35 - 54, you are what is known as the sandwich generation. According to the American Psychological Association’s 2007 Stress in America survey, this group feels more stress than any other age group because they are sandwiched between caring for growing children and their aging parents. The survey reveals that nearly 40 percent of women in this group report extreme levels of stress. This stress takes a toll not only on personal relationships, but also on their own well-being as they struggle to take better care of themselves, their young children, and their aging parents. Adding a newborn into the mix only exacerbates the stress and can make everything much more difficult.
The bottom line
While the stories of celebrities having children in their 50s can be inspiring, we should acknowledge the realities that come with later-in-life parenthood. Advanced fertility treatments, surrogacy, and adoption often come with significant costs, making this path less accessible for those without substantial financial resources. Additionally, raising a child at an older age requires careful consideration of one's energy levels, long-term planning, and support systems.
The growing trend of celebrities having children in their 50s sheds light on the evolving possibilities of modern family building. While these stories can be heartwarming, they also highlight the challenges and complexities that may accompany later-in-life parenthood, particularly regarding financial resources and physical well-being. It's a reminder that while the desire for parenthood is powerful, the path to achieving that dream can take many different forms.
Find an amazing egg donor at Cofertility
At Cofertility, our program is unique. After meeting with hundreds of intended parents, egg donors, and donor-conceived people, we decided on an egg donation model that we think best serves everyone involved: egg sharing.
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We aim to be the best egg-sharing program, providing an experience that honors, respects, and uplifts everyone involved. Here’s what sets us apart:
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We are obsessed with improving the family-building journey — today or in the future — and are in an endless pursuit to make these experiences more positive. Create a free account to get started today!
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Meela Imperato
Meela Imperato is Head of Marketing at Cofertility where she oversees marketing strategy, specializing in brand building, strategic communications, and content development. With 15 years of experience running marketing departments for startups in health tech, she is also a regular contributor to publications like Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, HuffPost, TechCrunch and more. Imperato earned her masters degrees in Investigative Journalism and Professional Writing and her bachelors degrees in Professional Writing and Creative Writing from Carnegie Mellon University.
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Meela Imperato