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- calendar_today October 15, 2026
Hilary Swank Pregnant at 52: A Joyful Announcement
Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank has announced she is expecting her third child at the age of 52. Swank took to Instagram with a light-hearted video in which her family danced with glow sticks, humorously referencing her pregnancy by revealing a glowing stick-figure on her belly. She captioned the video, "A lot of people have been asking what project I'm doing next. This one releases in December," accompanied by a baby angel emoji, suggesting her due date is in December.
Continuing Her Parenting Journey With Fertility Technology
Swank and her husband, Philip Schneider, are already parents to twins Aya and Ohm, born in 2023 when Swank was 48 years old. Notably, Swank had frozen her eggs at age 37, a decision that made her later pregnancies possible. She has openly discussed her contentment with choosing to have children later in life, telling Women's Health in 2025 that she feels more patient and present as a parent now that her career is established. "I'm much more patient. I'm much more understanding. And I have my career that's already established, so I'm not divided. I'm able to really sink in and be present with them and be a hands-on parent," Swank said.
Late Pregnancy Among Celebrities and Maternal Age Trends
Swank is among a number of well-known figures who have had children later in life, contributing to the visibility of advanced maternal age and late pregnancy. Janet Jackson and Naomi Campbell both welcomed children at 50, with Campbell having a second child at 53. Brigitte Nielsen became a mother for the fifth time at age 54. More recently, Anne Hathaway announced her third pregnancy at 43, reinforcing the growing normalization of parenting in later life. Hathaway has described her pregnancy as a blessing, emphasizing the rarity and joy of conception at this stage.
Growth in Advanced Maternal Age and Birth Statistics
Pregnancies among people over 35, classified as advanced maternal age, are rising across North America. According to Statistics Canada, in 2021, a quarter of mothers were 35 or older at childbirth, a significant increase from 16 percent two decades earlier. In the United States, federal data shows that 21 percent of births in 2023 were to women aged 35 or older, up from nine percent in 1990. Though natural pregnancy remains possible until menopause, the likelihood decreases with age, often leading individuals to seek technological assistance.
Role of Fertility Technology: Egg Freezing and In Vitro Fertilization
Swank's experience highlights how fertility technology, such as egg freezing and in vitro fertilization (IVF), has expanded options for those seeking to have children later in life. Egg freezing allows people to preserve eggs when younger, increasing chances of conception later. These procedures, however, are costly; in Canada, egg freezing averaged $12,000 to $15,000 in 2024. Most later-stage pregnancies, such as Swank's, are made possible by such advances, although medical experts advise caution as pregnancy risks increase with age, including complications requiring specialized medical care.
Societal Shifts and Ongoing Discussions
The trend towards parenting later in life continues, fueled by changing social norms and advancements in fertility technology. Swank has also been active in advocating for ingredient disclosure in products associated with parenting, such as diapers and prenatal vitamins. As birth statistics reflect shifting demographics, stories like Swank's contribute to ongoing discussions about advanced maternal age, celebrity pregnancies, and the risks and benefits of delaying parenthood.
Source: cbc.ca.
