Katrina Kaif becomes a mother at 42: The myths, facts, risks of pregnancy over 40 (and the safety tips)

After months and months of speculation and waiting, the good news is here — Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal have become proud parents to a baby boy.

On November 7, Friday, the couple shared the good news on social media via a joint post on Instagram. “Our bundle of joy has arrived. With immense love and gratitude, we welcome our baby boy. 7th November 2025. Katrina & Vicky," the statement read. The post was shared by Vicky, while Katrina was tagged in it, and the caption simply read: “blessed" along with a red-heart emoji.





Katrina only shared the news of her pregnancy in September via social media as she, along with Vicky, shared a sweet Polaroid picture of him cradling her baby bump. However, the speculation had started long ago — along with that came the concern: Is being pregnant post-40 safe for the mother and the baby?



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Now, pregnancy after the age of 40 is becoming increasingly common in many countries — especially with several accomplished women choosing to marry late and have a pregnancy later in their lives.

But the question remains: Is it safe?

Instances like Katrina Kaif, along with many other women in the recent past, have spoken for the aspect of safety. However, one might be curious: What are the myths and facts? And more importantly, what are the risk factors that come along?

Let’s unpack.

Myths vs facts: What you need to know

Myth 1: “Pregnancy over 40 is always high risk and almost always problematic.”

Fact: While risks do increase with maternal age, many women over 40 deliver healthy babies — with appropriate care and screening. For example, the Mayo Clinic notes that although fertility declines and complications are more likely, later motherhood is still feasible and often successful.

Myth 2: “If you turn 40, your fertility is gone.”

Fact: Fertility declines significantly by the early 40s, but is not zero. According to Better Health Channel, an Australian government-run website, by age 40, a woman’s monthly chance of getting pregnant may be only about 5% using her own eggs.

Myth 3: “With modern medicine, age doesn’t matter.”

Fact: Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have improved outcomes, but maternal age remains an independent risk factor for adverse pregnancy and perinatal outcomes — even when accounting for IVF and healthy women.

What the research says: risks of pregnancy at post-40

Large-scale studies show that women aged 40 or above (often called advanced maternal age, or AMA) have increased risks of certain complications compared with younger women.


A Denmark study of 369,516 singleton pregnancies found that women aged 40 + had an odds ratio (OR) of 2.02 for one or more adverse outcomes — compared to women aged 20-34. Specifically, the risk of chromosomal abnormalities was 7.44 times higher.

One meta-analysis found that women aged 35-40 and over 40 had higher rates of gestational diabetes, hypertension, pre-term birth, NICU admissions, and stillbirths compared to women aged 20-34, even after adjusting for other factors — showing age itself is an independent risk factor.

Another cohort study of women >40 observed significantly elevated odds of gestational diabetes (OR 2.10 for age 40-44) and early-onset pre-eclampsia (OR 2.10 to 3.16 for age ≥45) compared with younger women.

One study found that for women >40: higher rates of hypertensive disorders, diabetes, placenta praevia, small-for-gestational-age infants, caesarean section, fetal death, and maternal ICU admission.

In essence, pregnancy after 40 is possible and often successful — but it also carries elevated risks of medical complications, delivery interventions, and neonatal issues.

Why these risks increase with age

As women age, the egg quality declines and chromosomal abnormalities become more common, which increases miscarriage and chance of congenital abnormalities. Additionally, older mothers are more likely to have pre-existing health conditions (e.g., hypertension, thyroid disorders, diabetes) that complicate pregnancy.

What’s more? With age, women’s uterus, placenta, and vascular system may not adapt as well, leading to a higher risk of placenta problems, pre-term birth, or fetal growth issues. Furthermore, assisted reproductive technologies are more commonly used after 40, which may contribute to a higher risk of multiple pregnancy and associated complications.

Safety tips

How to navigate in case you’re considering pregnancy after 40?

Pre-conception health checkup: Assess your ovarian reserve, thyroid, blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiac health before planning to conceive.

Healthy lifestyle: Maintain optimal BMI, eat a nutrient-rich diet, avoid smoking and excess alcohol consumption, and engage in moderate exercise regularly.

Specialist prenatal care: Early and frequent prenatal visits, screening for chromosomal anomalies (NIPT, amniocentesis), monitoring for gestational diabetes, and hypertensive disorders are highly recommended.

Choose fertility assistance wisely: If you’re using IVF or ART, ensure you understand age‐related success rates and extra monitoring needs.

Manage existing conditions: If you have existing health concerns like hypertension, diabetes, or thyroid disorders, it’s wiser to get them well-controlled before conceiving.

Emotional and support readiness: Later motherhood often comes with better resources and planning — but the recovery may take longer. Prep yourself emotionally to go through the entire journey with a sound mind.