Blimey! Victoria Coren Mitchell has had a second baby at 51

[Sidebeforeself]

Congratulations to her. I caught up with OC last night and thought she looked pregnant but dismissed it when i remembered she’s around my age. Then i saw the announcement today. I’m knackered just thinking about it!

Why does the fact that they're wealthy make it OK for them to have a baby in their 50s (assuming DM is the same age)?

I think you’re saying more about yourself and your demographic here than about VCM and her daughter.

@MariaLuna "Don't know who she is but pity the kid when he's 21 having a mother old enough to be his granny."

My children seem to cope. And I'm not blonde and beautiful.Or on the telly.

Wow, in his teens? So his poor mother didn't reach 70? Pretty unusual and certainly not predictable in this day and age.

Probably because he’s not the one carrying the baby for 9 months and then giving birth to said baby. Which is a bit more tiring than his role.

I commented that they would both be in their mid 60s with a young teen.

Well not really ..man are usually able to father a child much later in life than a woman can carry a child so its not odd not to mention his age

Oh my lord!!!! Their poor bodies (mine is broken after 4!)

Wonderful news. Good on them.

Christ. Did she carry her herself? I never would have put her as 51 though.

She's fabulous and they seem a wonderful couple; I imagine conversations around their breakfast table are considerably more erudite than mine. Hopefully she'll stay in good health and live til her kids are in their forties.

I was the grand old age of 35 when DD2 told me her best friend's granny was younger than me!

They're loaded. They will be able to afford plenty of help. Good luck to them.

I know two women who had babies at 45. But 51 is exceptionally unusual.

Hope she's sorted out all legal matters for him (will, who will take care of him etc.).

That goes for all responsible parents of any age. Nobody is guaranteed a long life.

Because one of the disingenuous reasons people on MN use to justify being rude about older mothers is “but what will happen to the child when she dies and leaves it penniless??”

Congratulations!!!

Good for them! I love David and Victoria.

Doesn’t matter how much money they have, not nice to lose your parents when you are young.

Statically they will be lucky to have both parents by the time they hit 40, and both my parents and DH’s parents started to have health issues in their 70s. I think 50 is too old to have a child , doesn’t matter whether you are the mum or dad

It’s very unusual. Do we know if it was by surrogate or not?

Of course some women are fertile at 51, and that's why contraception should be continued until 1 year after your last period, or age 55 if they don't want any further children.

Fixed it for you. HTH.

I initially thought there was a mistake about her age and she was 41 as she looks so good, even for 41, never mind 51!

lovely news for their family

Well for a start they'll be able to pay for help which makes an enormous difference. And wealthy people generally have better health and live longer.

I wonder if it was a donor egg pregnancy. I was under the impression they were the only ones that ever really succeeded past a certain age.

It was predictable at the time, when the average life expectancy was about 72, so half of women died before then.

These days, not so much, but this child is still unlikely to have her parents around if/when she gives birth herself

I think VCM and DM are fabulous but I think 51 is too old to become a parent internationally.
I really hope that they remain fit and healthy well into their 70s, but parenting a teen when you're mid-60s in going to be hard.

Why are people talking as if the parents aren't going to survive until the baby is an adult?

When we're saving for pensions it's assumed we're all going to live into our 90s, so I for one will be extremely pissed off if I die before I've barely retired and made a start on spending my pension.