Having Kids After 40 Made Motherhood "More Meaningful" For Halle Berry

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Even though the idea of a woman having a child after a certain age is often met with concern and uncertainty (“geriatric pregnancies” is what they’re labeled, and they’re said to come with increased risk of complications), Halle Berry has nothing but good things to say about her experience birthing two children after 40. When asked what advice she would give to women considering trying to have children later in their lives, she told Us Weekly at a recent John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum premiere, “Do it. Just do it.”

“You’re so much more ready to be a parent after 40 than when you’re 20,” the 52-year-old said. “You know yourself better. You’ve done a lot of things for yourself, selfishly. When you wait later in life, you can really put your kids forward I think in a more meaningful way.”

It’s true that by the time Berry welcomed daughter Nahla at 41 and son Maceo at 47, she had already lived a pretty full life and even won an Oscar. By the time she made room for kids, she could appreciate what they brought to her life a lot more.

“I’m a much better mother at 46, or 41 when I had her, than if I were 21 or 25,” the star shared in 2012 about why she didn’t jump at the chance to be a mother in her 20s, when biologically, experts say it’s the best time to do it.

“[At that age] I was just a little baby just trying to figure out who I was, let alone having the responsibility of trying to help another little soul develop and grow,” she added. “I’m so glad I waited.”

Berry isn’t alone in lauding motherhood after 40. Hit the flip to see a few other well-known mothers who happily welcomed children later in life.

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Tamron Hall

The 48-year-old broadcast journalist welcomed her first child, son Moses, in April.

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Kenya Moore

With the help of IVF, the Real Housewives of Atlanta star welcomed her daughter, Brooklyn Doris Daly, at 47.

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Mariah Carey

Using IVF and acupuncture, Mariah welcomed twins Moroccan and Monroe at 41.

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Janet Jackson

The music legend welcomed her first child, son Eissa, at the age of 50.

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Kim Fields

The actress welcomed her second child, a boy named Quincy, at the age off 44.

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Nia Long

With a 10-year-difference between her first child, Massai, and her second, Long welcomed son Kez at 41.

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Iman

The iconic model gave birth to her second child, daughter Alexandria, at 45. At the time, her first child, daughter Zulekah, was 22.

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Audra McDonald

The actress and Broadway star welcomed her second child, but first with husband Will Swenson, at the age of 46. Her name? Sally James McDonald-Swenson.

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Lisa Bonet

The actress welcomed her third child, son Nakoa-Wolf (but second with husband Jason Momoa), at 41.

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Cree Summer

The voice actress welcomed her second child, Hero, at the age of 43. At the time, her first child, daughter Brave, was 2, so she (presumably) had both girls over 40.