Actor Hilary Swank announced at 52 that she is expecting her third child, following other public figures giving birth after age 40 such as Katrina Kaif and Deepika Padukone.
Dr Geetanjli Behl of Medanta noted that while rising numbers of older births reflect social trends, a woman's reproductive potential and egg quality decline sharply after her mid-thirties.
Medical risks associated with late pregnancies include gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, miscarriage, chromosomal conditions, and higher rates of preterm labor and cesarean sections.