I would never have guessed it but the Duchess of
Sussex, Meghan Markle and I have something in common. It’s not the dewy skin, great fashion sense or
the perfect mane of shiny, thick hair.
We are Geriatric Mothers. Yes you
heard me right…..GERIATRIC! Meghan is
actually part of a growing trend of women who are having children later in
life. Her current pregnancy (she is due
in the Spring) is considered a geriatric pregnancy and I just completed mine 10
months ago with the birth of my son. So
we are both “grandmas” having kids.
A geriatric pregnancy is one in which a woman is over
the age of 35 or the official medical terminology is called Advanced Maternal
Age (AMA). The U.S. Center for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) has stated that since 2007 rates have increased in birth age,
with 19% for women in their early forties and 11% for women in their late
thirties. I mean just look at all the
celebrities that have had children recently at an older age – including John
Travolta’s wife Kelly Preston who had her third baby at 48. Actress Beverly D’Angelo from the famed
National Lampoon movies had twins at 49, and of course there is the multi-platinum
singer Janet Jackson that welcomed her son at the ripe old age of 50!
Why is there such a
growing trend? First, there is a
societal shift taking place that has resulted in less stigma around an
“elderly” parent. In addition, women are
focusing more on their careers and trying to establish themselves first both
financially and professionally.
Technology has helped women over the
last few decades due to advanced fertility treatments. Then there is the mere fact that couples are
getting married later in life and waiting longer to have children so they can
travel, etc. I had my first baby at 32, not
yet geriatric at that time. However,
mine was a conscious decision to wait for my second. My husband and I weren’t sure we wanted two
children, we enjoyed the one on one time with our little girl and then when we
decided to add to our family it took longer than expected.
Recently, I started to
think about my own circle of family/friends and it became pretty apparent that
this was definitely the new normal. My
best friend from grammar school had her second child last year at 39. Then you
have my high school friends who all have turned 40 this past year and not one
of them has a child, yet they all want one in the near future. My step sister had her last baby at 39.
Personally, having my
son at an advanced maternal age was a welcome change. I was able to cherish the memories and
experiences I had with my daughter as a baby and now I have that same quality
time with my son. Things are easier for
me and he makes me feel young in a sea of younger mothers. Hopefully, I just don’t look like his
Grandmother!
Other articles by Karen DeMaio