At 48-years-old, UK mum Kate Lowe knows a thing or two about child-rearing. She’s been around the baby block several times now and has four sons and two stepsons to show for it. Her eldest boy is 26. Her youngest is, 1, which means she gave birth when she was 47.
Now, to many people, 47 is definite “Nana Territory”. In fact, Kate says she gets called “granny” all the time by people at the school gate and around town. She doesn’t care. Why? Because she’s older, wiser, and DGAF anymore, and, GIRL, we totally feel you.
She recently shared her two cents on being an “older mum” and her honest approach to parenting when you’re over 40 is a breath of fresh air.
Kate’s had kids in her early twenties, thirties, and late forties and admits that the latter has been the easiest in some ways.
[As an older mum] you’re often wiser, more financially secure, and in a better place career-wise. I feel younger than 48 anyway.
When I hear about celebrities like Naomi Campbell having babies at 50, I think, “Good on them.” More women are having babies later and why shouldn’t they?”
Plenty of celebrities have given birth to their children later in life including Sonia Kruger (her daughter Maggie was born when Sonia was 49) and Natalie Imbruglia who gave birth to son, Max, at age 44.
Other celebrities who welcomed children later in life include Gwen Stefani (44 when she gave birth to Apollo), Halle Berry (47 when she gave birth to Maceo) and Rachel Weisz (48 when she gave birth to her daughter).
New mum at 47
In 2019 Kate thought she had skipped her period because she was perimenopausal. She didn’t even think she could possibly be pregnant. But the pee stick said otherwise. Kate and her husband, Ben, 44 already had an 8-year-old son, Alex as well as four boys between them, aged between 25 and 15.
Despite being labelled a “geriatric mum” (so much ugh with this term, BTW), and being warned about the complications, Kate gave birth to her son, Elliot in May 2020 via a planned c-section. He was born happy, healthy and safe.
It was the easiest of all my births and Elliot has been a dream ever since.”
However, she admits the whole newborn-thang was a lot harder as an older mum.
Waking up for two-hourly feeds is way more shattering in your forties and my back aches more from bending over the cot. I was also more grumpy. However, from past experience, I knew the exhaustion would pass.”
This ability to see past the present and know that, yes, it’s a phase, is one of the hallmark characteristics of an older mum and one of the many things that’s so great about having babies later in life.
You’re simply more aware of how things work. You know it’s hard but you have been through it and lived to tell the tale. And you can do it again.
Babysitters for days
But perhaps the best thing about being an older mum (with older kids) is the extra help.
Elliot’s big brothers all help to look after him, so I have more support than when I was a young mum.”
She also admits that she hasn’t bought as much baby crap as she did the first few times. When you’re older and wise, you realise you don’t need ALL the baby things.
Of course, Kate admits that she does worry about what being an older mum will mean for Elliot later in life.
I’ve worried that when Elliot reaches his teens I will be in my sixties, and that he might lose me when he’s still young, but both my parents are healthy in their seventies and I hope I will be too. You have to live in the now.”
She also admits that she does get mistaken for Elliot’s grandma often, but doesn’t let it bother her.
The best thing about getting older is caring less about what other people think.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself. And, as a mum who had babies in her early twenties and then late thirties, I couldn’t agree more with Kate!
So, cheers to all the “geriatric mums” out there. Sure, we’re old, but we’re also wise enough to not give a sh*t about what others have to say about it.
What to read next
- Being Pregnant Over 33: What You Really Need to Know
- What I Wish I Had Told Myself Before I Had Kids
- This Woman is Nearly 70 and Pregnant With Twins!
