The average age of first-time mothers is on the rise all over the Western world – with Ireland having one of the oldest first-time mothers in the world according to recent statistics.
However, while advanced maternal age can in some cases come with its medical challenges, mainly when it comes to how easy it is getting pregnant in the first place, many also argue that being an older mum has its benefits too, such as being more secure in your job/relationship/living situation, having a better financial network in place and also being more sure of who you are and ready to welcome a baby into your life.
Another argument for having a baby or adding to your family in your late 30s or 40s is that a baby will bring with it a new lease of life for the entire family – and yourself.
This is something that TV star, interior designer and author Joanna Gaines can relate to, after finding out she was pregnant with her baby #5 a full eight years after welcoming her last baby – and now at the age of 40.
And while her
Fixer Upper fans were "shocked," she laughs, no one was quite as surprised as Chip and Joanna themselves.
And yet now, the designer says that having a baby in her arms is
making her feel "young again."
"I kid with people, 'If you ever want to feel young again, have a baby at 40,' "
she tells People. "It's brought this whole new thing for me where I'm a lot more laid-back. People joke that I'm the 'Fun Jo' now."
Gaines has been open about what a shock to the system a pregnancy at 40 was, getting personal in an an emotional essay for the fall issue of her magazine,
Magnolia Journal.
"I truly believed I was done...
And yet, after eight years, here I am with a newborn in my arms," Joanna wrote, explaining that having a baby wasn't what the couple were planning to do when they ended their hit HGTV show in 2017.
"Chip and I made a choice to take some time off this past year because it seemed best for us in that season — even though we knew it would stretch us to stay still," she explained.
Only a few weeks later I found out I was pregnant."
Finding out that 13-year-old Drake, 11-year-old Ella, 9-year-old Duke, and 8-year-old Emmie would soon have a brand new sibling was a bit of a shock to Gaines' system, as was the pregnancy.
At 40, Gaines' pregnancy was termed "geriatric" by medical professionals, a term which
made her laugh, but she admits this one was a bit tougher than the first four.
"I have always really enjoyed being pregnant—I tend to feel my best during those nine months.
This time I felt a little more worn out than usual," she wrote.
When asked if she and Chip are planning a sibling for baby Crew, Joanna said there are no concrete plans, but the door isn't shut to a spontaneous addition.
"I thought I was done, and then we had Crew," she says. "
We've never been planners anyway."
(Feature image via Joanna Gaines/Instagram)
