I got pregnant at 56 but thought docs were crazy – women are the biggest trolls but I know I’m wiser being an older mum
A 56-YEAR-OLD mum thought doctors were joking when they told her to take a pregnancy test.
But it turns out that Claudia Raia was pregnant through natural conception despite her age.
The mum-of-three welcomed a baby boy called Luca earlier this month and said he is “already claiming his space” in the world.
She had given birth to her first two children over 20 years prior and was gobsmacked by a doc’s suggestion she had a third on the way.
Claudia recalled: “When the doctor asked me for a beta, the pregnancy blood test, I said, ‘Baby, you’re really crazy. Where did you get this from? I’m 55 years old.’
“I went to the pharmacy, bought the Clearblue, I couldn’t stand it.
“Because I said ‘I have to take the test’ – a test that everyone does – what is this, I’m going to wait a day and a half for a blood test to come?
“I can’t stand it.
“Then I took the test and it came back more than three weeks pregnant.
“I said, ‘it can not be. Guys, I’m 55-years-old’.”
The Brazilian actress – who is a household name in her native country – is married to fellow performer Jarbas Homem de Mello and this is their first child together.
Luca entered the world healthy and weighing six and a half pounds on February 11.
The mum’s other children Enzo Celulari, 25, and Sophia Raia, 20, are from a previous marriage.
Claudia froze her eggs at 48 but was told by doctors that she had started menopause at 50 so thought there was no hope of having another baby.
In 2021, she and Jarbas decided to try for a baby via IVF but no embryos formed and they accepted “it wasn’t supposed to be”.
However, a doctor later told her she had started ovulating again and should take care ‘not to get pregnant’ despite her age.
It is extremely rare for women over the age of 50 to become pregnant naturally, with a woman aged 35 being considered as a geriatric pregnancy.
According to the NHS, both mothers and babies face an increased risk of pregnancy-related complications and health problems as women get older.
This is due to how the reproductive system ages and the increased likelihood of general health problems that come with age, like high blood pressure.
Older mums can be faced with more risks in the delivery room, such as prolonged labour, need for assisted delivery or Caesarean section, or stillbirth.
However, pregnancy in the over-50s has become more common in recent years due to advances in assisted reproductive technology.
Claudia announced her pregnancy to her 8.6 million followers on Instagram in September last year.
She shared a video of herself and husband Jarbas tap dancing before holding up a positive pregnancy test.
The caption read: “Our dream to be parents is nothing new!
“And didn’t it come true? Me and [Jarbas Homem de Mello] are pregnant!”
Claudia reportedly implored women to “please have more empathy” during a TV interview in Brazil when discussing some of the backlash she had received.
Just months later, she took to the photo sharing app to reveal the exciting news of Luca’s safe delivery.
She penned: “Luca arrived lighting up Saturday night! He arrived here on February 11 already claiming his space. We made it through.
“The world has since gotten a new colour for our family.
“We are overflowing with happiness and love! Welcome, Luca!”
Claudia started her showbiz career as a dancer in America after moving from San Paulo, Brazil.
She shot to fame in 1985 when she appeared on a Brazilian prime-time TV show.