The joys, trials and blessings of motherhood have been subject to limiting patriarchal systems that have attempted to restrict women from having autonomy over their body.
As a result, women are often vilified for their decisions surrounding children.
For example, people are always fussing and questioning why a woman hasn’t had children, and if she wants them, they wonder when she will start building a family.
Luckily, even though those opinions still exist, their relevancy is becoming more taboo now that more people than ever are choosing to have babies later for various private reasons.
There are many reasons a woman may choose to have children later in life, which can range from facing struggles to conceive, not meeting the right person, financial difficulties, or simply wanting to build a career before welcoming a baby.
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Here are some of your most-loved Hollywood and Australian celebrities who became mothers in their late 30s and early 40s.
naomi
Naomi Campbell, 50
This week supermodel Naomi Campbell surprised the world by announcing she had become a mother for the first time at 50.
The iconic model revealed that she had welcomed a baby girl and shared a picture of herself holding her daughter’s feet.
Salma
Salma Hayek, 54
The glamorous actress was 41 when she gave birth to her first child, a daughter called Valentina, in 2007.
Nicole Kidman
Nichole Kidman, 53
Nicole was already a mother to her two adoptive children Isabella and Connor, who she raised with ex-husband Tom Cruise when she gave birth to her first biological child at 41. In 2008, Nicole and her husband Keith Urban welcomed their first daughter, Sunday Rose, and in 2010, their second daughter Faith Margaret was born.
fifi
Fifi Box, 44
The radio host and TV presenter gave birth to her first daughter, Trixie, in 2013 at 37-years-old. Then at 41, Fifi revealed that she was going to have a second daughter via IVF with an anonymous donor, and in 2019 she introduced baby Daisy to the world.
The presenter took to Instagram to discuss her IVF journey and how the process can be challenging but ultimately very rewarding.
“I know the value of this miracle because I have seen first hand the heartbreak, tears and sacrifices so many women and couples suffer on their IVF journeys and my heart goes out to those who are facing that pain and struggle.
“It is not lost on me that I am one of the lucky ones. Being a mum is my greatest joy in life, it is quite simply everything to me.”
Sonia
Sonia Kruger, 55
After years of IVF treatments, the presenter gave birth to her first child, a daughter called Maggie, at 49. Sonia had been an advocate for IVF and reducing the stigma around it as she too struggled to conceive.
In an interview with Dr Burmeister for her website Strictly You, Sonia spoke about how she thought it would be impossible to become a mum at an older age.
“When I first went to start a family it was very late in life and I just thought I had seen celebrities having babies at 46, 47, 48 and it was possible to get pregnant naturally that way or via IVF, but that’s not really the case,” said Sonia.
Naomi
Naomi Watts, 54
The actress and her then-husband Liev Schreiber had their first son, Sasha when Naomi was 39, and the following year she gave birth to her second son Samuel at 40.
Michelle
Michelle Bridges, 50
In 2015 the trainer welcomed her first son, Axel, into the world at 45-years-old with her then-partner Steve ‘The Commando’ Willis.
Michelle has spoken about the abuse she received for having a child later in life in the Raw Talks podcast by WHO magazine.
“When it did happen I was 43. I got a lot of heat for [becoming pregnant]. A lot of heat. And it was such a kick in the guts for me because I was so excited,” recounted Michelle.
Chloe
Chloë Sevigny, 46
The fashion icon and actress welcomed her baby boy into the world at 45 with her husband, Siniša Mačković.
jules
Jules Robinson, 38
The Married At First Sight star gave birth to her son Ollie with Cameron Merchant at 38.
emily
Emily Symons, 51
The Home and Away actress became a mother for the first time a week before her 46 birthday. She gave birth to a son who she named Henry. The actor was candid about her fear that she would not be able to become a mother due to her age, and in her pregnancy announcement, she revealed that after trying everything to get pregnant, it wouldn’t happen.
“I very much thought it couldn’t happen and I was too old.
“I thought it would be impossible but it isn’t. I’d given up, really, I thought I had tried every avenue that was available to us. My advice is to not give up if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by the whole process,” said Symons.
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