TWO-TIME OSCAR-WINNING actress Hilary Swank recently revealed that she is pregnant with her third child at the age of 52, and I say absolutely fair play to her.

She’s a fit and healthy woman who, having already given birth to twins when she was 48, is firmly in her mum era and seems to be clearly loving it.

But in the same breath, I also found myself saying, “Thank God that’s not me.” In fact, I would go so far as to say that I would rather pluck my eyes out with a rusty spoon than find myself pregnant again in 10 years’ time.

That’s not a criticism of her choice in any way. While ‘going again’ for the third time in 10 years’ time is definitely not on my bingo card, that doesn’t mean I don’t absolutely respect her decision, and if I’m honest, admire her for taking it on because motherhood at any age is full on.

The predictable negative commentary from those telling her she’s “too old” to have a baby, or that she’ll be the oldest mum at the school gates, as well as the “does she not realise she will be 72 when her child is 20” brigade, is just boring and reductive.

None of them would bat an eyelid if a male celebrity announced fatherhood at 52. Who had anything negative to say about George Clooney becoming a dad for the first time at 56? If anything, he was lauded for waiting until he ‘felt ready’ to be a father. Women don’t get afforded that luxury; indeed,........

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