I HAD A BABY AT 48

Claire Allfree has no regrets about having a child later in life

- CLAIRE ALLFREE

When I told my friends I was pregnant with my second child, at the age of 48, most of them responded with delight. One even had tears in her eyes, which I took to be tears of happiness, rather than distress on my behalf. Another, however, was aghast.

She is an acclaimed wine writer and travel journalist and devoted stepmother of four teenagers who spends a fair part of the year hopscotching between hotels across Europe. I can see her point: who in their right mind would choose to have a child at an age when most parents are looking forward to regaining control of their Saturday mornings, not gearing up to spending them once again into the seventh circle of hell known as soft play?

FIRST-TIME MUM

Well, Hilary Swank for one. A few weeks ago, the Oscar-winning actress, who for years has been open about her desire for children, announced she had given birth to twins at the age of 48. She’s far from alone – the number of women giving birth in their 40s is on the increase.

More than 2,000 women over 45 gave birth in the UK in 2022, the highest level since records began 80 years ago (the average age of a first-time father in the UK is 33.6, a year-on-year increase since 2016). ‘Older mothers are cool,’ said my boss, when I told her I was expecting.

I don’t feel particularly cool – to be honest, I feel a bit knackered. And I’ve been wearing the same jeans for weeks – but I know what she means. I’ve been surprised by how much I’ve taken baby number two in my stride. So far, it’s felt easy. Normal. Natural, even. As though she’s been part of our lives for years, which on one level she has.