KPN: I had never planned it that way--it just happened.

SC: It was planned. We had big life changes in our late 30s,

CG: Yes, we very much wanted to have a baby (we both have children from previous relationships, but this is our first together).

M+A: Did you encounter any judgment or negativity through your pregnancy?

KPN: I can't remember any judgment or negativity, but the medical establishment considers you

SC: No. Everyone was positive, encouraging, and elated for me to experience motherhood.

CG: None at all. Many of my friends have had babies at 40 or older. As more women postpone starting a family until later in life, I just don't think it's that big of a deal anymore.

M+A What was your pregnancy and birth experience like?

KPN: I was very happy during the pregnancy, but even as a healthy person, it was medically difficult. I was watched for preeclampsia; I developed high blood pressure and went on meds, and I had screaming headaches which they were reluctant to medicate for obvious reasons. I was in and out of the ER often during my third trimester and although it was a physical struggle, I felt my best mentally. Kind of like in an expectant bubble. I also hired a doula and I think that helped make it a positive experience.

M+A: Do you think there's a significant difference between being pregnant in your 40s vs. in your 20s? Do you think society feels there is?

KPN: I don't think there's a huge difference and I didn't feel judged by society. I think the struggle is more seeing those 25-year-old moms on the playground and thinking 'shit, I wish I had more energy.' One huge difference is you can have more babies if you're 30. Due to my medically tough pregnancy and then I got PPD after I gave birth; I didn't try for a second child. I think the problem was more that both families pressured me to have a second child and I clearly was not able or willing to do that. I think with an older mom they push more for a c-section, maybe due to valid safety concerns...I had to do all the interventions because an older uterus can't contract as strongly.

SC: This being my first and only baby, I can't speak with a comparison. Aside from the increased precautions and processes taken by my midwife practice and the birthing hospital, I haven't noticed a significant difference. It's probably because I'm surrounded by friends who had their first and second babies in their mid to late 30s, so the 40s didn't seem like such a huge stretch.

CG: I don't see any difference at all. At 40, I'm physically fitter and mentally stronger than I was during my previous pregnancies. In fact, I've been less tired during this pregnancy than I was during my second pregnancy at the age of 32 because back then I also had a 2-year-old to look after. My children are older now, more independent and self-sufficient. I think society judges women who have

What misconceptions would you like to clear up about having a child after 40?

KPN: If the misconceptions are 'too old', I'd add that we're more financially stable and wiser than younger people and probably mentally tougher as well due to having more life experience...I'd say there are physical challenges more than anything. If I had to do it over, I wouldn't change anything–I needed a certain level of growth and a solid partnership before I committed to raising a child, and that wasn't happening in earlier stages of my life. A sad and unexpected thing that I didn't think about is if you wait until your 40s, your kids don't get as much exposure to the love of their grandparents as they would with younger grandparents. But maybe because of that, I've made more of an effort to bring my daughter in contact with her grandparents on both sides often.

SC: My experience tells me that the individual health and constitution is more important to having a healthy pregnancy than the age. I felt very lucky that from conception to birth, me and the baby were healthy.

CG: There are lots of misconceptions are out there: women who wait until 40 to have a baby are selfish, women who wait until 35 or older are unlikely to get pregnant, women who get pregnant after 35 put their child at risk, etc. The biggest misconception that applied to me was that women with low ovarian reserve can't get pregnant. While it might be a little more difficult, it's certainly not impossible. We have to take what's reported in the media with a pinch of salt, even medical studies. Trying to get pregnant is stressful enough without being bombarded with gloomy headlines and scary statistics (which are often taken out of context). You can be a great parent at any age. There are benefits to having kids in your 20s, your 30s, and your 40s. You should never judge someone for getting pregnant at a particular age — you don't know their full story.

Celebrating a pregnancy-at any age? Treat yourself to something special.