Late delivery

Academy Award-winning American actress Hilary Swank told The Drew Barrymore Show that it’s a double standard that women over 40 receive backlash for getting pregnant when men of similar age who father a child don’t get criticized.

The two-time Oscar winner and star of the Clint Eastwood-directed “Million Dollar Baby” is currently pregnant with her third child with husband Philip Schneider. Swank recalled a woman berating her, “How dare you,” when the latter learned that she was 52 years old.

The woman told Swank, who gave birth to twins in 2023 at age 48, that her dad passed away when she was in her 20s and the loss was devastating.

Swank replied that had she also been born to older parents, “I would rather be born and have that person that was my favorite person and experience that than not at all,” Page Six reported.

Meanwhile, a Chinese woman went viral after sharing on social media the birth of her baby girl on 17 September at the Zhumadian Central Hospital in Henan province, central China.

The woman, surnamed Zhang, shared her perspective on giving birth at an older age, saying she was unconcerned about the disapproval of others, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.

“In my eyes, I am only 28 years old. I believe I can live a long life,” said the 60-year-old mother of two, according to SCMP.

Zhang gave birth to a son two years ago following the death of her only child in 2022. When she gave birth again, she said, “I am so happy! I have a son and a daughter. My life is so fulfilling. The two kids will keep each other company and won’t feel lonely.”

Pregnancies at ages 58 and 60 are rare in China, Zhang Hualian, an obstetrician at the hospital, told SCMP.