LATER IN LIFE MUMS

Two women share their greatest adventure

‘I never suffered from any of the issues my younger friends had’

Ellie Stoneley, 57, gave birth to Hope, now 10, when she was 47. Ellie and Hope live with Ellie’s mum Hilda, 94, in Cambridge. In my teens, I imagined living in a cottage with roses around the door, surrounded by my children. But life doesn’t always go to plan. While I was delighted for friends when they started having children, I felt wistful when I held my brother’s babies. While others were raising families, I seized opportunities to live in Australia and America. I had a miscarriage in my early 30s, and when my partner died, it was a devastating blow

HAPPY NEWS

I met my husband and we tried for a baby, but I had another miscarriage. Then, in my mid-40s, we decided to try IVF. I gave up everything that migh increase my risk of miscarriage – hair dye alcohol, coffee and red meat.

I had the IVF in May 2011 and, a few weeks later, a scan confirmed I was pregnant. Because of my age, I had extra scans, but I never suffered any of the issues many of my younger friends had, from swollen ankles to pre-eclampsia. I delighted in being pregnant and healthy, walking every day and talking to my growing tummy.

Because I was a particularly ‘geriatric’ mum, I was given a caesarean in January 2012. Even as Hope was handed to me, I scarcely believed she was here. I hadn’t dared to buy baby things as it felt like tempting fate.