Sis, It’s Not Too Late: The Rise Of Black Motherhood After 40

When I saw recent headlines and posts that read, “Women over 40 are having more babies than teenagers for the first time,” I paused. Not out of shock but out of a quiet, deep-rooted sense of validation.

Black motherhood is changing.

Kids have always been an “if it happens, it happens” kinda thing for me. However, a March 2025 National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) report shows that it is, in fact, “still happening” for women like me.

Recent Report Shows More Women Over 40 Are Having Babies

The NCHS reported that women aged 40 and up gave birth more often than teen girls in 2023. For the first time in modern history, the over-40 club is outpacing the high school crowd.

Our auntie era is giving new life now—literally.

As a Black woman in her 40s, the news is promising. We’ve spent so much of our lives being told there’s a tight window for motherhood. That if you didn’t make it happen by a certain age, you were basically out of luck. But this study and the very real lives of women around us tell a different story.

One that’s less about panic and pressure and more about power and possibility.

The study looked at trends from 1990 to 2023, and while overall fertility rates in the U.S. are still dropping—down 14% since the ’90s—what’s interesting is that this drop is mostly because women under 30 are choosing to have fewer babies.

Meanwhile, women in their 40s are making intentional decisions to start or grow their families—on their own terms, in their own time.

Black Motherhood: Pregnancy Over 40 Can Be Scary, But Not Impossible

And we know the road isn’t always easy. Pregnancy after 40 is still considered “high risk” by the medical world and through the side-eyes of family members. Add in body changes, doctor appointments that come with extra monitoring, work stress, finding a man that will stick around, and the emotional weight of waiting, and it can feel like the odds are stacked.

But that’s only part of the story.

Because the truth is scientific innovation—and access to it— is changing the game. Fertility treatments, egg freezing, IVF, and a growing awareness around reproductive health (especially when it comes to Black women’s unique needs) are opening up possibilities like never before. The conversations around fibroids, hormonal health, and Black maternal care are louder and more necessary than ever.

And with that comes more support, more women having children, and more success stories.

So, while the recent study is inspiring, it’s not surprising. The study did not detail race and ethnicity, but its predictions on the possibility of childbirth for all are clear.

In recent years, we’ve seen several examples of glowing Black women stepping into motherhood after 40 with their first, second, or third child.

RELATED: Women over 40 who gave birth

Black Motherhood: From Nia Long To Da Brat And Naomi Campbell, More & More Women Over 40 Are Having Children

Take Nia Long, for example. At 52, the actress and all-around icon is raising two sons: her 11-year-old, Kez Sunday Udoka, and 22-year-old Massai Zhivago Dorsey II.

In a 2023 interview with The Cut, Nia shared that doctors warned her it might be difficult to conceive again in her 40s—but she wasn’t stressed. “I thought if it was meant to be, it would happen, and I wasn’t going to worry about it either way. When it happened, it was pretty exciting,” she said.

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A post shared by Nia Long (@iamnialong)

And Nia isn’t alone.

From Tamron Hall and Da Brat to Mariah Carey, Naomi Campbell, and Ashanti—more and more of our favorite Black women starlets show us that motherhood in your 40s is not just possible but powerful.

The truth is it’s never too late to say yes to joy, love, and possibility. For many, that includes becoming a mom. So, if you’re scrolling and wondering if your time has passed—it hasn’t.

Whether you’re still thinking, actively trying, or trusting God’s timing, know you’re not alone. The data says so. The aunties-turned-mamas say so. Now, it’s just a matter of whether you say so.

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