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Gwen Stefani Details “Miracle” of Getting Pregnant in Her 40s
Life itself is a miracle, let alone the chance to grow a new one inside your own body.
And, according to even the most modern medical expertise, the chances of getting pregnant—and then carrying a baby to term—diminishes as women get older. As in, reach their mid-to-late 30s.
But waiting until then—or later—to have (or have more) children has become increasingly common in society, let alone among celebrity moms.
"I really wanted to have another baby. I really did," Gwen Stefani said on a recent episode of Hallow, recalling how she found the idea inconceivable at 43. "And I couldn't and I was old. And then my oldest boy, Kingston, comes up to me. He's like, ‘Mommy, I just I really want you to have a baby.’ I said, ‘I'm sorry, your mommy's too old to have a baby now.’”
Kingston, now 19, prayed for her, Stefani continued, and then "like four weeks later" she got pregnant with her and then-husband Gavin Rossdale's third child. Apollo was born in February 2014, when his mom was 44.
"Totally a full-on gift," said the No Doubt singer, who's also mom to 17-year-old Zuma, summing up the whole experience as a "miracle."
But that type of miracle has become more feasible in recent decades, and fellow famous moms including Hilary Swank, Gisele Bündchen, Halle Berry, Eva Longoria, Janet Jackson and many more have been basking in the joy of having babies a bit later in life.
Theo Wargo/WireImage, Isa Foltin/Marcel Remus via Getty Images
"The person that I was in my 20s and even into my 30s would've been a very different mom than I am now," Swank, who was 48 when she gave birth to twins Aya and Ohm in 2023, told Business Insider in 2024, explaining that she had much more mental energy to devote to parenting by the time she became a mother.
"I'm in a place where I just have a lot more patience and a lot more grace to give, not just my children, but others around me," the two-time Oscar winner said. "I can give them so much more than I could have at that point."
However, as Swank, who married second husband Philip Schneider in 2018, explained to Women's Health last year, "I’m not saying I actively waited until 47 [to get pregnant]. But that was a magical time in my life, when it all culminated. It was the right time for a myriad of reasons.”
Stefani and Swank are in good company when it comes to expanding their family as they entered a new decade. See more celebrity moms who welcomed babies after turning 40:
Taylor Hill/Getty Images
Gisele Bündchen
The mom of son Benjamin and daughter Vivian with now-ex-husband Tom Brady was 44 when she welcomed a son with Joaquim Valente in early 2025. She and the Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor tied the knot that December.
While Gisele hasn't been sharing many details about her newest addition, including the child's name, she did let it be known that she tried out a new postpartum exercise regimen the third time around.
Demonstrating her Pilates-based moves on Instagram in February 2026, she wrote, "They really have helped me gain my core strength back after my third pregnancy. I wish I knew them before, because I didn't do them in my other pregnancies."
Stefanie Keenan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Hilary Swank
The two-time Oscar winner was 48 when she welcomed twins Aya and Ohm with husband Philip Schneider in 2023.
“I would have had kids earlier,” Hilary, who noted that she froze her eggs 10 years prior to getting pregnant, told Women’s Health in 2025. “I’m not saying I actively waited until 47. But that was a magical time in my life, when it all culminated. It was the right time for a myriad of reasons.”
“I’m a very different parent than I would’ve been, even in my early 40s,” she continued. “I’m much more patient. I’m much more understanding. I am much more, I think, interested in a different way than I would’ve been.”
Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Claire Danes
For the Homeland star—already mom to sons Cyrus and Rowan with husband Hugh Dancy—learning she was expecting baby no. 3 in her mid-40s in was nothing short of a shock.
"I called my OBGYN in convulsive tears,” Claire, who experienced fertility struggles before welcoming Rowan, admitted on the Good Hang podcast in January 2026. “It was a pure—it was all meltdown. None of this was by design. I didn't know it was physically possible. I was 44.”
Daughter Shay joined the family in 2023.
Gwen Stefani/Instagram
Gwen Stefani
"I was desperate," No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani recalled on Hallow in March 2026. "I really wanted to have another baby. I really did. And I couldn't and I was old. And then my oldest boy, Kingston, comes up to me. He's like, ‘Mommy, I just I really want you to have a baby.’ I said, I'm sorry, your mommy's too old to have a baby now.'"
Kingston's reaction was to begin praying, she detailed.
"I think it was like four weeks later and I was pregnant with Apollo," explained Stefani, who also shares Zuma with ex Gavin Rossdale, "who I had at 44-years-old, naturally—totally a full-on gift."
Jennifer Love Hewitt/Instagram
Jennifer Love Hewitt
In May 2021, Jennifer Love Hewitt announced she was expecting her third child with husband Brian Hallisay at the age of 42. "Oh baby! We have another one on the way," the 9-1-1 actress wrote to her followers. "So excited to finally share this news with all of you."
Milla Jovovich
"After I found out I was pregnant 13 weeks ago, I had a mixture of feelings ranging between complete joy and utter terror," then-43-year-old Hellboy actress Milla Jovovich wrote on Instagram in 2019 of expecting with husband Paul W. S. Anderson two years after undergoing an emergency abortion. "Because of my age and losing the last pregnancy I didn't want to get attached to this potential baby too quickly."
Rainbow baby Osian joined older siblings Ever and Dashiel in February 2020.
Alanis Morissette
Telling fans there was something they oughta now, Alanis Morrissette revealed she was expecting at 44. She and husband Mario "Souleye" Treadway—already parents to son Ever and daughter Onyx welcomed daughter Winter in August 2019.
Matt Baron/Shutterstock
Rashida Jones
Parks & Rec alum Rashida Jones quietly welcomed her first child, a son with musician Ezra Koenig, in August 2018 at the age of 42.
Dan Steinberg/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images
Sophie Hunter
At the 2018 Emmys, E! News learned that Benedict Cumberbatch's wife Sophie Hunter was pregnant with baby No. 3 at the age of 40. The duo are parents to Christopher, Hal and Finn.
Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic
Gretchen Rossi
Real Housewives of Orange County alum Gretchen Rossi, then 41, and partner Slade Smiley announced they were expecting their first baby together after years of infertility struggles. They welcomed daughter Skylar in July 2019.
Brigitte Nielsen
Model and reality star Brigitte Nielsen was 54 when she revealed on social media in 2018 that she was expecting her fifth child. Born that June, Frida joined older siblings Raoul, Douglas, Killian and Julian.
Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Rachel Weisz
Actress Rachel Weisz revealed that she and husband of seven years, Daniel Craig, were expecting their first child together in April 2018. "Daniel and I are so happy," the then 48-year-old told the NYT. "We're going to have a little human. We can't wait to meet him or her." The couple welcomed daughter Grace that September.
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Eva Longoria
In June 2018, actress Eva Longoria gave birth to son Santi, whom she shares with husband José Bastón, at the age of 43.
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
Tori Spelling
Tori Spelling gave birth to her fifth baby with then-husband Dean McDermott in March 2017 at the age of 43.
D Dipasupil/FilmMagic
Audra McDonald
Six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald attributed "tap dancing during perimenopause" for getting pregnant with her second child, and first with hubby Will Swenson, at 45 while starring on Broadway in Shuffle Along.
R Chiang / Splash News
Janet Jackson
After stopping her Unbreakable Tour, "All for You" singer Janet Jackson found out she was pregnant with her first child at 49. She welcomed son Eissa in early 2017.
John Parra/Getty Images for Estee Lauder
Eva Mendes
Not quite two years after Eva Mendes and longtime partner Ryan Gosling welcomed eldest daughter Esmeralda, the Hitch actress gave birth to her second child, daughter Amada, in 2016 at age 42.
Cindy Ord/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows
Rachel Zoe
Yes, we died for this news. Two years after future Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Rachel Zoe had eldest son Skyler, she welcomed son Kaius in December 2013.
Photographer Group / Splash News
Halle Berry
Oscar winner Halle Berry welcomed daughter Nahla at age 41. Five years later, Berry gave birth to a second child, son Maceo, in 2013.
ABC/Rick Rowell
Kelly Preston
Two years after the death of Kelly Preston and husband John Travolta's teenage son Jett, the actress welcomed a baby boy at 48. Benjamin joined older sister Ella in November 2010.
McMullan/Sipa USA
Brooke Shields
Already mom to daughter Rowan, actress Brooke Shields gave birth to her second child with husband Chris Henchy, daughter Grier, in 2006 at the age of 41.
Palace Lee, PacificCoastNews.com
Madonna
"Material Girl" singer Madonna five days shy of her 42nd birthday when she welcomed son Rocco in 2000. The singer is now mom to Lourdes, David, Mercy, Stella and Estere.
PatrickMcMullan.com via AP Images
Tina Fey
At 41, 30 Rock star Tina Fey gave birth to her and hubby Jeff Richmond's second daughter, Penelope Athena in 2011, six years after they welcomed daughter Alice.
Xposure / AKM-GSI
Mariah Carey
"They're a lot, but they give me so much love in return. I wouldn't be the same person without them," Mariah Carey told People of Monroe and Moroccan, the twins she welcomed at the age of 41 with then-husband Nick Cannon. "I think Nick and I have done pretty well in co-parenting, staying friends with each other so that we can talk."
Lisa O'Connor/ZUMApress.com
Marcia Cross
Almost a month before her 45th birthday, Desperate Housewives star Marcia Cross welcomed twins Eden and Savannah in 2007 with husband Tom Mahoney.
Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Julianne Moore
Crazy, Stupid, Love star Julianne Moore was 42 when she and husband Bart Freundlich welcomed their second child in 2002. Daughter Liv joined older brother Caleb.
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Salma Hayek
Savages star Salma Hayek joined the ranks of Hollywood's hottest moms when she was 41. She welcomed daughter Valentina with billionaire businessman François-Henri Pinault.
David Becker/Getty Images
Nicole Kidman
Already mom to Bella and Connor with Tom Cruise, Oscar winner Nicole Kidman gave birth to her first daughter Sunday with then-husband Keith Urban in 2008 when she was 41. The couple's second daughter Faith arrived via surrogate in 2010.
Courtesy of SPE; Inc./Eric Charbonneau
Susan Sarandon
Having welcomed future actress Eva Amurri with filmmaker Franco Amurri in 1985, actress Susan Sarandon went on to have two kids with actor Tim Robbins. Son Jack arrived when she was 42; Miles at 45.
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