'I went through the menopause six years ago and was too old for fertility treatment in the UK 'Karen Johnston, 54, gave birth to twins Asa and Imogen 13 weeks prematurely in March. She lives in Bicester, Oxfordshire, with husband Roger, 55, a former Army sergeant who now works for a car manufacturer. The couple have eight other children — Daniel, 33, Jemma, 28, Scott, 27, Amy, 26, Aiden, 17, Bethany, 14, Joseph, 13, and Willow, two. Karen says:
Having had children in my 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s, I honestly think the best age is your 30s.
In my 20s I felt torn between my children and wanting to socialise and have fun, but once I got to my mid-30s and beyond I became more relaxed and patient and didn’t care about nights out any more.
All I’ve ever wanted is lots of babies. But had I looked like an old lady and been in poor health there’s no way I’d have continued having them into my 50s.
For your children’s sake you’ve got to have the energy and good health to do all the things that younger mums do with their kids.
I don’t feel any different to when I was in my 30s — just 3st heavier.
I had my first baby with Roger when I was 20, but I think that’s too young now and I’d be mortified if any of my children had babies at that age — my first grandchild was born to my eldest son, 33, this month.
In my generation girls left school, got a little job, then got married and had children.
But the younger generation today have so many opportunities to travel and have fun, they should enjoy themselves and mature before having kids.
I suffered three miscarriages after my fourth child, Amy, before then having Aiden, Bethany and Joseph. Two more miscarriages followed and we decided to stop trying.
I went through the menopause six years ago and was too old for fertility treatment in the UK.
But in 2007 I read about a 63-year-old British woman having fertility treatment abroad and my broodiness returned.
So Roger and I flew to the Czech Republic for IVF using donor eggs and conceived Willow. We did the same last year to conceive Imogen and Asa, at a total cost of £6,000 for the two separate treatments.
Before we went for fertility treatment I calculated that I should have at least 25 years of my life left to raise and care for another child, and since Roger and I had the money and support network to make it possible I thought, why not go for it?
Whatever happens I know I have a loving, strong family who will be there for each other. I wouldn’t change anything for the world.
My babies keep me young and I’ve got the advantage of three teenagers to help.
Having children is a privilege and it gives me a sense of purpose.
There have been people over the years who’ve told me I should stop trying for more children, which made me angry. I couldn’t help my maternal feelings, though I almost died when I had the twins seven months ago.
They had to be induced three months early when I developed pre-eclampsia — a complication that can be dangerous to both mum and baby.
I wouldn’t recommend that women choose to wait until my age to have children. If they’ve met the right person I’d urge them to get on with it in their 30s.
We won’t be having any more. The twins were the perfect way to bow out of childbirth.
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In 2010, the CDC reported that the only age group in the United States to show a RISE in birth rate were women over 40.
