A baby at 62 (media article)

[Edenspirits]

There is always a lot of debate on mumsnet around age and babies so I wondered what the view of Deborah Warner was who just had her first baby at 62:

www.theguardian.com/stage/2021/jul/07/life-is-never-what-you-expect-deborah-warner-on-theatre-nature-and-new-parenthood

I think its bonkers to be honest but aibu?

I agree with you but there will be loads of people along in a minute to tell us 62 is the new 21.

Well her partner gave birth, so she is the non-birthing parent, which puts her in the same position as many fathers.

I don’t think anything over 45 is a great age to embark on parenthood with a newborn, whichever parent you are, but others will disagree.

@RickiTarr ah ok, I didnt know that. I thought she actually carried the baby herself which seemed really bonkers!!

@Taliskerskye because its interesting to have a discussion about it which is essentially what this forum is for. I mistakingly thought she carried the baby herself which is why I thought it was really bonkers but as has been clarified above, her partner did!

No different to all the men who have children older but that seems to be accepted more. She didn't give birth to the baby, her partner did. She is still an older parent than I would like to be.

It’s just judgey as fuck. And you know it.

Far better than the drug addicted abusive 30-something that some poor kid will get for a mother somewhere on the planet.

Humans eh.

Naomi Campbell got slated at 52, so this will be interesting. I think up to the natural age that some women can still knock live babies out, is ok, especially if you are wealthy. Over 60, I don't know if the option should be available to give birth, should be available. But then I know someone who adopted a child at 70. When I worked in CP we had fosterers who were 73 and they were fantastic. So it's a bit bleared for me.

@Taliskerskye but if it had been her giving birth at 62, yes it is judgy but yes I would have still thought 62 was too old to birth a baby. Sorry.

No different to any of the older fathers. Wasn't Bernie ecclestone a father again at 89?

A work colleague of mine has not long had her 2nd child, so they'll have 2 under 2 and she's 54. Good luck to her and her partner, I wish I had their energy!!!

Don’t be so judgemental. Would you be posting this if she were a man? Presumably not, because that happens all the time.

The article says her partner is “singer Claire Egan” and a Google search turns up someone meeting that description who is ~37.

Women get slated for having babies too young, too old, when they are single, when they work.... it goes on and on.

Its ridiculous.

I would have said it was too old but I know someone who adopted two small children at 62 as a single parent (with adult children) and she is amazing.

Bit misleading OP. Her partner had the baby, this is no different from an older man having a baby with his younger spouse.

I see her partner's 39, then no, I wouldn't think enough about it to judge.

Well, I don't know how old her partner Claire Egan is but if she's considerably younger (and I would guess she is since a 60- ish year old mum giving birth with a famous connection would likely be reported on) then they're no different from a lot of couples where an older man and younger woman have a baby. That is to say, pretty unremarkable really.

I can't imagine many 18 year olds would be chuffed about having an 80 year old mother..

@Youdiditanyway yes, I realised that after someone pointed it out as it wasnt clear in the article. I thought she had given birth at 62 which is why I thought it was bonkers

@Edenspirits is 39 too old to birth a baby?

@Taliskerskye

Why do you even care. It’s so vanishingly rare. I imagine that having a mum like her will bring many additional brilliant things to their life that your probably hum drum life couldn’t ever

Jesus Christ... 🙄

I know plenty of fathers over 45 and had one myself. She's in that position.

However as she puts on stage productions I wonder how much time she is going to give the child.

The older fathers I know deliberately curve time out to spend one-to-one with their young children . Those who also have older children didn't do that with them when they were young as they were concentrating on their careers.

"I can't imagine many 18 year olds would be chuffed about having an 80 year old mother.."

Knowing you've got around £2 million to inherit might take the edge of it. That and being brought up in a wealthy family.
The 18 year olds often kicked out on the estate I live on, were there's been seven shooting in six weeks, all men in their 20's, would probably swap.

@Ponoka7 I can't imagine any amount of money would make up for potentially losing one of your parents really young though can it