Celebrity Moms share about being a first time mom

No matter the age at which a woman becomes a mother for the first time, having a first baby stirs up many powerful emotions.  Excitement, happiness, adoration for your little bundle of joy and even a little bit of angst and fear. For celebrity moms, these feelings are often amplified by living in a life in the public eye and pressure for their children to become celebrities as well.

According to a Google search, in America, the average age for women to give birth for the first time is 26. But it’s not unusual for women to become first-time moms after age 30 or even 40. And, thanks to modern medicine some women are giving birth for the first time even into their 50s.

So how do celebrity moms feel about motherhood? What wisdom and thoughts do they share which other first-time moms can relate to and benefit from? And how are they keeping their kids grounded in the glitzy world of fame and fortune?

J. Lo became a mother for the first time in 2008 at the age of 38 when she gave birth to twins. In interviews, J.Lo has stated that as she got older, she wasn’t sure if she was going to have the opportunity to become a mother. She says when her twins were born she, “immediately felt bonded, protective, overwhelmed with emotion and like the luckiest woman on this earth." She does admit, however, that she wasn’t prepared for twins and urges other mothers having multiples to “stay calm.”

Former child actress Drew Barrymore also gave birth for the first time after age 30. Barrymore was 37 when she gave birth to her first daughter Olive. She has since become a mom to a second daughter, Frankie.

As a troubled and addicted teen who went to rehab at age 14, Drew has said publicly that she won’t allow her daughters to become child stars as she feels her celebrity lifestyle contributed to the challenges she faced as a young person.

Red-headed beauty Julianne Moore gave birth to her first child son Caleb at age 37 and then had a daughter four and a half years later. Moore says she always knew she wanted to have children. She also says that she’s tried hard to keep her children grounded and ensure that her kids “have a regular life” which she provided by cooking breakfast every morning and driving her kids to school just like other moms.

American Idol winner Carrie Underwood became a mom to son Isaiah at age 31 after suffering three miscarriages. She’s taken her son out on tour with her, which she admits that at first, she was nervous about. While Underwood does try to keep her son out of the spotlight, she does occasionally post photos of him on social media saying, "I don't know how much of these things he'll remember as he gets older, that's why we try to get lots of pictures."

Khloe Kardashian gave birth to her daughter at age 33. The Kardashians keep very little private and Khloe’s pregnancy and the rumors that her boyfriend and baby daddy Tristan Thompson had cheated made for a very public pregnancy.

When daughter True was born Khloe tweeted, “I waited for this day for so many years! I know now, looking back that I was in shock because I couldn’t believe that this would ever happen to me but I’m still very proud of myself for how I handled everything. True gave me the peace and strength I needed.”

Singer Mariah Carey gave birth to twins when she was 42. Carey says she doesn’t plan to have any more kids because “her kids get jealous when she pets the dog.” Last year, Carey was criticized by fans on social media when she posted a video of her twins aged seven half singing with her in the car but not wearing seatbelts, proving that a momentary lapse of mom judgment is magnified when you’re a celeb.

Academy Award winner Halle Berry had her daughter at age 41 and then a son at age 47. The actress has said that she was very surprised when she learned she was pregnant with her son as she thought she was starting menopause. Berry rarely posts pics of her kids on social media but in 2018 she did post a rare pic of her son while on vacation in Bora Bora.

Mexican stunner Salma Hayek gave birth to her daughter Valentina at age 40. Hayek says she thinks she’s a better mother now than she would have been had if she become a mom when she was younger saying, “she gets to be a better mother for being born now.”

Actress Laura Linney best known for her role in romantic comedy Love Actually, gave birth for the first time at age 49. Linney admitted she was nervous about her pregnancy and delivery because of her age. She told Kelly Ripa, “Well, I was an older mother-to-be, and it had taken me a very long time to have a child I wanted to make sure that my child actually arrived, and was safe and healthy.”

The most famous woman to give birth after age 50 is surely Janet Jackson. The entertainer gave birth in 2017 to son Eissa. Jackson told Billboard Magazine, "For someone like me, raised in show business where self-concern is always a priority, how fortunate I am now to be concerned, first and foremost, with the welfare of someone else. Day after day and night after night, holding my baby in my arms, I am at peace. I am blessed. I feel bliss. In those moments, all is right with the world."

Today Show anchor Hoda Kotb adopted her only child Hayley Joy at age 52. Kotb was unable to conceive after treatment for breast cancer which battled in her 40s. Kotb admits she wonders how many years she and her daughter will have together saying she will be “forever thankful to have Haley Joy in her life, and is focused completely on 'being grateful for [however many] years we have together.”

Although many women successfully conceive and give birth after age 35, it is important that older women planning to become pregnant at age 35 or later familiarize themselves with the potential risks involved and discuss these risks with their doctors.

The chances of giving birth to a child with birth defects, most notably Down Syndrome, increases after age 35. According to the website medicalnewstoday.com, “While the rate of an embryo having Down syndrome at the 10-week mark of pregnancy is 1 in 1,064 at age 25, this rises to 1 in 686 at age 30 and 1 in 240 by the age of 35 years. At the age of 40, the Down syndrome rate increases still to 1 in 53, and down to 1 in 19 embryos at age 45.” Other issues are also more prevalent for older moms including the likelihood of a miscarriage and the chance of developing gestational diabetes or high blood pressure while pregnant.

As women age their ability to conceive also decreases. Women are born with a certain number of eggs. Throughout a woman's life, the number of eggs she declines, as does the quality of the remaining eggs. Embryo freezing may be an option for younger women who think they may want to become pregnant later in life. The aging of the uterus also can make a vaginal birth more difficult for older women. Therefore, older women are more likely than their younger counterparts to deliver by C-section. Becoming a mother at an older age also has some advantages. Older moms are usually more mature and more financially secure than younger moms.

Becoming a mother at any age is an exciting and life-changing event. As every woman is different there is no “right age” for first-time motherhood. All women should discuss their pregnancy plans and options with their doctors to help ensure smooth, healthy pregnancies and deliveries.