So Cheryl Cole 39 said she's too old to have another biological baby

I think as women we need to accept we aren't all a homogenised group and hormones and fertility is individual. Of course there are general markers of when fertility decreases, but given how little we really understand all the factors involved in carrying a baby to term - don't stress about it. Cheryl is only speaking for herself and obviously this is a thought process or decision that suits her situation.

My grandma was a gynae/obstetrician surgeon and had her children at 40 and 43. And I think she was more qualified than most to make the decision. She often commented on how many women in their 20s actually had miscarriages that no one talks about because their egg reserves were good, but reproductive health not so much. Atm I have a friend who's been trying to get pregnant since 29 (is now 34 and has tried IVF) and is still struggling, and one who's had children at 38 and 41.

So there's risks and problems at every age - it's just easier to fixate on older mothers and egg reserves are an easier metric than unexplained fertility or miscarriages.

Personally 39 would be too old for me - now my two are 16 & 18, I'm enjoying my 40's too much!

I am sorry that you are in a tough situation @Warrensrabbit but have you actually read the full quote, posted upthread?

I’m trying to leave my partner at the moment and I want a baby. I am rapidly approaching 40 and terrified I have now missed my chance to have children. I fear I have wasted 7 years being strung along by a man who didn’t want kids.

i find comments like this insensitive, I know I am old, I am frightened I have missed the boat, It feels like she is trying to generate clickbate and relevance about something that is painful for a lot of women.

let’s not forget she has a stage show to promote at the moment…

Of course it’s physically ‘possible’

But it’s unlikely, and even if you were able to get pregnant and stay pregnant the risks of the baby having a wide range of developmental issues and disabilities is very high, too high for most to risk.

It's not for me but all women are different with different health circumstances. Healthy pregnancies are of course possible at this age.

I know so many people who’ve had healthy babies at 39 and older , and none who’ve had unhealthy ones . But for me, it’s about parenting at that age which I feel is manageable for babies and toddlers but relentlessly difficult and exhausting when you have a teen (that’s just personal experience). Of course you’re more likely to be financially secure and less likely to be longing for a ‘missed’ career or life experiences but I think menopause meets puberty is a hellish combo and one lots of women are unprepared for when they have children older.

I’m 39 and wouldn’t want to have another baby now either. That’s not me saying nobody should be having a baby at 39.

I think she just mean ‘39 is too old for her’ she’s not saying it’s too old for any woman to have a baby. For me at the age of 40 I could physically have another child and for me I feel I am too old, though I have friends who are having children at a similar age, that’s there choice.

In my circle I many people having babies well into their forties, usually stealth third/fourth children, rather than first timers, but a a few of them too.

What's right for Cheryl isn't what's going to be right for you OP. Her views don't affect your choices, health or capability.

Many older mums will have healthy babies but there is no denying the fact that biologically, 39 is old in terms of pregnancy. Perhaps she does not want to be a middle aged mum to a baby.

I'm 38, my eggs are all shit and my chances of conceiving, even with IVF, are miniscule. Everyone's different.

I see it that her opinion is she thinks she’s too old at 39.

I felt I was too old at 39 to have another baby. A friend of mine started her family at 38 and so clearly felt she wasn’t too old.

up to the individual.

I have the family tree of one side of my family.

The records show than many of the women (where the records are accurate) had large families (some with 10 children) and their last ones were in their early 40s.

Didn't Cherie Blair have her 4th at 46?

I think you're right, and that not enough people take that into account. When people say there's no way they would have the energy to have a baby at 39, they are often coming at this from the position of people who already have children -- I had my only child just shy of 40, by choice, was fit as a flea, had run a marathon just before conceiving (first month trying), was complimented on my fitness throughout pregnancy by my midwife, and had a perfectly straightforward pregnancy and birth. If I already had a demanding toddler or a moody teenager getting into scrapes, I would probably have felt very differently.

But then, I would never have wanted to have a child before about 35 -- I was prepared to take the risks of later parenthood, including the risk it wouldn't happen at all, because for me those were outweighed by really not wanting to have a child in my 20s or early 30s.

39 would be too old for me too. It could be any number of reasons. She's not speaking for everyone

She isn’t offering advice. She’s stating her personal situation.

Might be personal to her why that statement is true. Eg. she's in early menopause or she's had fertility tests which say getting pregnant is unlikely.

39 is not too old for all women to fall pregnant and have a biological child. Women 40+ have been doing this since time began.

I had my first at 37, second at nearly 41. DH is 2 years older than me.

Both babies are super healthy, and both were conceived first time we tried!

I do acknowledge that we were lucky, but also know from many friends who waited that it's not unusual at all to be lucky in this way.

I wish you all the best :)

Of course it is for some women! A lot of women give themselves a personal cut off and if she thinks 39 is too old for herself, she’s absolutely entitled to feel that way. I wouldn’t ever consider having another at that age either.

I don't tend to take life advice from Cheryl (not Cole). Is she about to rent a womb or something?

Full interview if you want context. Warning to those who avoid it, it's the Daily Mail.

www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-11658603/Cheryl-39-admits-shes-considered-adoption-gushes-headstrong-son-Bear-5.html

@Princesspollyyy Too old. But my point was people just think about the birth and the baby and not your age as the child grows up.
A friend had a baby at 42. Now in her fifties she just complains all the time and seems to have no joy at all from her child.

My great-grandmother had my grandmother at 47 and my great-aunt at 49 in the 1920s! Both of them lived to be 90+. 😄

Yes, unless she has made other comments elsewhere then the OP's paraphrase totally misrepresents what CC said.