Celebrities such as Sienna Miller, 44, and her sister Savannah Miller, 47, have been praised for sharing their pregnancy news, but critics argue that these stories often gloss over the significant challenges of conceiving after 40. Sienna recently told Glamour magazine that being pregnant in her forties is 'so much easier' than in her twenties, adding that she feels 'really fortunate' to be expecting her third child naturally after freezing her eggs. Savannah, expecting her fourth child, called the pregnancy a 'profound and phenomenal gift'.
However, for many women, the reality is far more difficult. One woman, who spent over £80,000 on IVF after being told her ovarian reserve was 'practically non-existent', said such celebrity narratives sell an 'impossible dream'. She noted that around one in seven couples of any age may struggle to conceive, and pregnancies over 35 are classified as 'advanced maternal age' due to increased risks.
Other high-profile examples include Gisele Bündchen, who had her third child at 44, Hilary Swank, who welcomed twins at 48, and Naomi Campbell, who had her first child at 50. While these stories are celebrated, critics point out that they rarely address the financial and emotional toll of fertility treatments, which can cost tens of thousands of pounds.
The trend has been further fuelled by younger celebrities like Camila Morrone, 28, who praised the idea of first-time mothers in their forties as 'breaking up with what we think we know'. But experts warn that such messaging can create unrealistic expectations, as fertility declines sharply with age and many women face heartbreaking struggles behind the headlines.
