In 2022, Hilary Swank announced that she was pregnant with twins at the age of 48, sparking a conversation about the risks of pregnancy after the age of 35.
Now, Swank is pregnant again at 52. She announced her pregnancy on her Instagram feed with the caption: “A lot of people are asking what project she will do next, it will be released in December.”
Pregnancy at 35 or older has been classified as “advanced maternal age” by the medical community. Studies have linked older pregnancies with a higher risk of complications and health problems such as high blood pressure and chromosomal abnormalities. Research shows that the risk increases with age.
In 2024, Swank, at age 50, told Business Insider that she would love to have children by age 48.
“Someone who was my age in their 20s and into their 30s would be a very different mom than I am today,” says Swank, who is also HealthyBaby’s Chief Innovation Officer.
Swank says there are many benefits to being an older parent, such as having more time and flexibility to spend with your children.
He likes the flexibility of his work
Swank told Business Insider that she took the first six months off for maternity leave (the average maternity leave in the US is three months). He was also in no rush to return to work, waiting for an opportunity that seemed right.
Swank says having more time with her children is important. “I’ve only slept three and a half hours, and I haven’t seen my babies, and it’s really hard,” she said. “It makes me really empathize with all the parents out there who work so long that they can’t see their kids.”
They have more mental energy to devote to their children
Swank says she doesn’t have to focus on herself like she did in her 20s and 30s, when she started her acting career. They give us space to prioritize the needs of our children.
“I’m in a place where I have more patience and more grace to give, not only to my children, but to others around me,” she said. “I was able to give him more than I was able to give at the time.”
He felt more comfortable with himself
One of the best things about being pregnant in your late forties is being swank comfortable with yourself.
“The things you used to care about aren’t front and center anymore,” he said. “You’re in a new place in life and it’s a beautiful place to be.”
Swank isn’t the only one who feels this way: other parents say they had more time to think before having children. Even Swank’s mother misses her 40s.
“If he can come back at any time, at 45 — he feels the best,” Swank said. “And I’ve heard a lot of women say that.”