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Original poster

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

303 replies

Sidebeforeself · 01/11/2023 19:29

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!

OP posts:
ChiefWiggumsBoy · 01/11/2023 21:57

What is your problem @grottyb? Are people just not allowed to opine on this thread without you challenging them?

Finetoday · 01/11/2023 21:59

Wow she’s beyond impressive!
Well Done VCM !!!

CharlieBoo · 01/11/2023 21:59

@LeonBlack I also has older parents (especially my dad) who was well into his 40’s by the time I was born. I was always very aware of this and I suppose I was conscious of this as I was growing up, my friends parents seemed
so young in comparison.

However my brother and I were so longed for and so loved and I was lucky enough to have my dad into his 80’s.

Good luck to them, lovely news and I’m sure the baby will be utterly loved

GilberMarkham · 01/11/2023 22:01

elliejjtiny · 01/11/2023 20:24

Good for them. I wouldn't fancy having a baby at 41, never mind 51 though. When I was having my youngest at 32 I was the oldest by quite a long way in the maternity ward and the same age as one of the grannys.

When was this?

And wouldn't that granny and her daughter or son have been only just at the age of consent giving birth (or victims of statutory rape if both female) ...to be a granny at 32?

grottyb · 01/11/2023 22:02

Ok - if you're going to be disingenuous about it.

Im not being disingenuous at all. I have a family friend who is sadly now in the early stages of dementia. She is wealthy (was a mc partner), her children live nearby & lives at home with care. It costs thousands but she has millions. Money gives you more choices.

They have plenty of money to pay for it, does that make it easier to do so? Emotionally?

Having money to pay for something does make it easier because if you don’t have it you can’t pay…. Of course it will be hard emotionally but that wasn’t what was said. You implied the daughter would do the care, that’s what I questioned?

PerspiringElizabeth · 01/11/2023 22:03

MariaLuna · 01/11/2023 19:34

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

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

Ah what a waste of your pity. I know someone who had a perfectly thriving surprise kid at 52. (30 ish years ago so I can say it all worked out fine) Find something else to worry about 😄

grottyb · 01/11/2023 22:04

What is your problem @grottyb? Are people just not allowed to opine on this thread without you challenging them?

Whats yours @ChiefWiggumsBoy? Are you not challenging other posters opinions?

TheGander · 01/11/2023 22:05

It’s really not at all common to have a child in your 50s without any kind of medically assisted fertilisation or more likely egg donation. My grandmother was a fit 49 when I was born so I guess June Violet’s experience of her mother, might be something similar. And my gran wasn’t caring for us day in day out, just in the summer hols. Although I’m sure the C-M can buy loads of help.

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 01/11/2023 22:05

Well just imagine I was implying 'having to care for' was to stand for everything surrounding having an unwell elderly parent, not just the nasty physical bits like bedpans and restraints @grottyb.

Nonamesleft1 · 01/11/2023 22:06

It absolutely is possible to have a natural pregnancy at 51.

all this speculating about donor eggs and ivf 🙄

most women who are still biologically capable of having a child in their 50’s choose not to. But it is possible- which is why as pp have said you’re not advised to stop contraception until a year after periods have stopped.

grottyb · 01/11/2023 22:07

@ChiefWiggumsBoy now you are really confusing me! Should I reply to your post directed to me or does that come under your definition of challenging?

PiIIock · 01/11/2023 22:09

Nonamesleft1 · 01/11/2023 22:06

It absolutely is possible to have a natural pregnancy at 51.

all this speculating about donor eggs and ivf 🙄

most women who are still biologically capable of having a child in their 50’s choose not to. But it is possible- which is why as pp have said you’re not advised to stop contraception until a year after periods have stopped.

To be quite honest, it seems likely that IVF/donor was used here if there's an 8 year gap and V is 51.

Of course, it could be natural. Doesn't really matter anyway, a baby is a baby all the same

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 01/11/2023 22:09

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 01/11/2023 21:34

Well, she might be if she has to look after a parent with dementia in her early 20s?

I know this will bring a flurry of 'anything can happen at any age' posts, but IMO it's selfish to have a baby this old, and I'd say that for a man as well. You're less likely to be able to support them past a certain age, more likely to die when they're young.

Show quote history

@grottyb

there's my opinion. I give you that my first sentence could well be seen as a challenge. It was in defence of the only other person willing to put their head above the parapet with an unpopular opinion.

grottyb · 01/11/2023 22:12

there's my opinion

and I’ve given mine, which is different to yours. That doesn’t mean I am challenging you or have a problem…

grottyb · 01/11/2023 22:14

And using your logic why do you have a problem with what age someone you don’t know has a baby?

AnnunciataZ · 01/11/2023 22:16

Lots of mums where I live have lived in this town all their lives and their families have too for several generations. Lots of them went to the same school that their children do.

Never leaving your home town sounds a bit depressing but if that's all you know then I can see why you might struggle to comprehend VCM's decision. But having grandchildren at 32 is not the norm regardless of where in the U.K. you are!

Stopbloodybanging · 01/11/2023 22:17

Lucky baby having two intelligent, kind, funny parents who are also financially secure.

Vintagecreamandcottagepie · 01/11/2023 22:17

elliejjtiny · 01/11/2023 20:24

Good for them. I wouldn't fancy having a baby at 41, never mind 51 though. When I was having my youngest at 32 I was the oldest by quite a long way in the maternity ward and the same age as one of the grannys.

How old are you?!?!!

At 32 you were the oldest mother by far on the maternity ward?

Even if true, do you really think this is widely the case anywhere?

Ridiculous.

fuckmyuteruslining · 01/11/2023 22:19

I think a factor which skews our thinking about what's 'normal' is that many women with a late 'surprise' now will terminate the pregnancy. We simply don't get to see what's biologically possible because it doesn't fit with the lives we now lead. So moral of the story being don't let your contraceptive guard down ever. Unless you want a baby.

LuluBlakey1 · 01/11/2023 22:19

My best friend gave birth at 34 and died almost exactly a year later 9 years ago of a blood clot in her heart. My grandma gave birth to her last child at 46 and died 35 years later when I was a child. This thread is horrible. Two healthy, happy, well, wealthy people have had a child. It's none of our business. Why people have felt the need to say the such unkind, ignorant things that some have said is beyond me.

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 01/11/2023 22:21

My opinion is that it is selfish to have a baby at 51. That's it. My 'problem' with it is that I believe it is selfish because the child has a much higher probability of growing up without a parent or having to take on caring duties - emotional or physical - early on in life. I'm sorry you didn't get that from my previous posts.

Other than that I don't really care what people I don't know and will never have any contact with do with their lives.

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 01/11/2023 22:24

Anyway, I'm out. Congrats to the new mum and dad, everyone is right it's not my business any more than it is those that are over the moon on this thread.

GuitarGeorgina · 01/11/2023 22:25

Congratulations to them all. They seem like lovely people, and I wish them every happiness.

I’m completely in awe. I’m only slightly older and the thought of a baby brings me out in a cold sweat! A puppy was hard enough, and the sleepless nights phase only lasted about 3 nights with that.

grottyb · 01/11/2023 22:27

My opinion is that it is selfish to have a baby at 51. That's it. My 'problem' with it is that I believe it is selfish because the child has a much higher probability of growing up without a parent or having to take on caring duties - emotional or physical - early on in life. I'm sorry you didn't get that from my previous posts.

And my opinion is it’s different when the parents in question are millionaires. The child has a higher probability of their parents living longer & living healthier longer. Health inequality does exist. I’m sorry you didn’t understand my posts.

adriftabroad · 01/11/2023 22:41

Suddenly everybody on MN is fertile at 51 and it is completely normal.

It is very funny.