EXCLUSIVE: Natalie Portman Feels “Lucky” and “Grateful” to Be Welcoming Third Child at 44

she should name it Luuke

Best Listnook comment of the year I think.

You really got a way with words!

“Stay on target!” “I CAN’T HOLD IT!” “STAY ON TARGET!”

I accidentally got pregnant at 43. We had been together for 5 years at that point. Got pregnant right after we got together & it ended in loss. So we were like “if it happens, it happens”. So then it didn’t happen and we kind of forgot it could happen. We went to my cousins wedding & I had a few too many drinks. Our son was born 8 months later. His older sister was an IVF baby, so I never really thought I’d get pregnant after we lost the baby. Had my tubes removed this time though

Getting pregnant naturally at 40 isn't at all uncommon. More people are still fertile at 40 than not. 44 would be more uncommon, but still not medical marvel territory. My grandmother had her last kid at 45 without any assistive tech. Though regardless, even if this pregnancy was IVF, I'm not sure why people get so judgey.

Username checks out.

Whenever people wonder why I’m in no rush, I look at my aunt who had 3 kids in her 40s… including natural twin girls!

There is! I am 42 years old, 8 months pregnant and 15 months postpartum. :) If your doctor approves, try supplementing with Ubiquinol.

A new hope?

You just hear about the celebrities and remember them. I have coworkers who had babies in their 40s, as well. It's not *that* rare. It's statically harder to get pregnant, yeah, but a quick Google search says there's between 100,000 to 147,000 pregnancies each year in the U.S., in women over 40.

My sister is 45 and pregnant - IVF at both 41 and 45.

Eh you still need luck at that point. Only so much the science can do.

I guess it’s perspective that makes you consider pregnant at 44 “lucky”

And Jonathan Safran Foer

Her husband was having an affair. What should she have done?

It was 3 years ago and he cheated on her. She’s not allowed to move on and be happy?

Luckily she doesn’t need to convince you! This is a weird take.

Why would it mess up the kids? They're getting new siblings as far as they're concerned. Especially if their relationship with their stepfather is good, they most likely will feel elated

The way I assumed it's been a few months from this comment and I would've agreed with you and then the replies are like "3 years?".

Why? How does time change anything? Why would the kid feel any different if it was a day or a year or a decade later? The kids are still in her life. And if she did abandon them then having another kid or no kid doesn't change anything either they would feel shitty regardless. I'm trying to understand why exactly her kids would be messed up by their mom getting pregnant again?

You think her teenage son doesn’t understand how pregnancy happens or what getting a new sibling is like? 🫩

I mean it will if they hear people saying stuff like this about it

While I do agree in general, having kids young doesn't guarantee you more time.  My mom had me in her 20s and was gone before I turned 30. Never got to meet her grandkids. It was partially the choice to start younger that led to her early death, she wasn't in a right state to have kids and it compounded a lot of underlying mental health issues, unstable relationship patterns and addictive behavior.  Obviously waiting too long isn't great but having a kid before you get your life straight can be just as bad.

Sounds like you're lucky to spend time with your mother despite her having you later in life. My parents were in their early 30s when they had me. One passed while I was in my teens. The other was in poor health by the time I was in my 30s. Nothing in life is guaranteed.

You wouldn’t even exist without her decision, just be glad you lucked out and are here breathing the air.

Hard agree, although it’s suuuuuuch a heated conversation and women get INSANELY defensive and angry discussing all this. I have a photo with me as a toddler in five generations, with my great-great grandfather. I feel so fortunate to have had actual relationships with all my great-grandparents. I am 42 and all my grandparents are still alive today doing well in their mid to late 80s.  Having kids late robs them of a relationship with relatives, which is such a special thing to have. My BF never got that. He never knew his grandparents/remembers them really. His mom had him at 43, and dad 45. My parents were able to bike, hike, ski, and do so many active things with us (my younger sis and me) growing up, unlike him, and friends, who had older parents who couldn’t keep up or do much with them. BF is constantly worried about his aging parents as they’re starting to get significant health issues in their 80s. He’s also 42 and wondering how much time his dad in particular has left. Hot take I know, but be considerate to the relationships you’ll offer your children during their developmental and coming of age years. It really really does matter. And they should not need to take care of you too young. For the record: advanced maternal/paternal age comes with higher risks of deformities, defects, mental disabilities, and more.

My mom was 20 when she had me, now she's an absent grandparent. :( My dad was 21 when he had me--he died at 61 years old and was completely uninterested in his children or grandchildren. I understand what you are saying because I am currently 42 years old and pregnant with my third child. I know that the nature of humanity is that I can 'go at anytime' but nothing has motivated me more to be a present and healthy parent the being of an 'advanced maternal age.'

Agree… my mom has heart failure almost the past 10 years in her 70s and can’t do anything. Other families go on group vacations with their kids and parents during their retirement but mine can’t even go to a restaurant. In china they have kids just to have somebody to take care of them in old age

That's not any one's business but hers

Her dad is a fertility doctor, it’s very likely she froze her eggs after she realized her ex was cheating and then used those now. Most women can’t get pregnant naturally at 44 and often not even with IVF for their own eggs. The usual advice is donor eggs at that age.

You aren't entitled to that information.

Why does it matter?

That is in the first sentence of the article