Baby Changes Everything: Embracing and Preparing for Motherhood after 35

by Beth K. Vogt, Twila Paris (Foreword by)

More and more women are becoming mothers after age thirty-five whether by choice or due to circumstances beyond their control--after years of longing or as an unexpected blessing, through childbirth or adoption. But with many resources geared toward younger mothers, these "Mommy-come-latelys" need encouragement and wisdom from someone who has been there. Beth Vogt became a mother again at age forty-one. With humor and practical advice based on her own experience and that of others, she encourages and guides late-in-life moms in emotional adjustments, medical issues, and changes in their relationships with others. The wisdom, perspective, and resources offered here will help women welcome and embrace life as a mom. Includes a foreword by Twila Paris.

Genres: Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. Now Beth believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” The Best We’ve Been, the final book in Beth’s Thatcher Sisters Series with Tyndale House Publishers, releases May 2020. Other books in the series include Things I Never Told You, which one the 2019 AWSA Award for Contemporary Novel of the Year, and Moments We Forget.
Beth is a 2016 Christy Award winner, a 2016 ACFW Carol Award winner, and a 2015 RITA® finalist. Her 2014 novel, Somebody Like You, was one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2014. A November Bride was part of the Year of Wedding Series by Zondervan. Having authored nine contemporary romance novels or novellas, Beth believes there’s more to happily-ever-after than the fairy tales tell us.
An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth blogs for Learn How to Write a Novel and The Write Conversation and also enjoys speaking to writers group and mentoring other writers. She lives in Colorado with her husband Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people. Connect with Beth at bethvogt.com.

Reviews

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will be 3 months shy of my 35th birthday when I welcome my first child into the world, so I was instantly attracted to this book. While I am excited about the prospects of long-awaited motherhood, I am nervous about transitioning into life as a stay-at-home mom after over a decade of profession & social life outside the home. I assumed this book would address these issues from a Christian perspective.

While the book references first-time mothers, the focus seems to be on mothers who have a last “surprise” or “caboose” baby after they think they are done with their childbearing years. If this is your situation, the book will probably be very helpful. However, for me - not so much.

The book talks a lot about medical issues with late-in-life babies as well as the social stigmas of being an older mother. Until reading this book, I didn’t consider myself an older mother. It was kind of depressing - talk about being a killjoy.

I bought this book from a Christian bookstore, but quickly discovered it was written from a Protestant perspective (vs. Catholic). Surrogacies, IVF, vasectomies, divorce, blended families and working mothers were all approvingly mentioned -as well as purposely not having babies until much later in life.

The book took the tone that late-in-life pregnancy was a burden, but could lead to joy. It definitely was a subtle advocate for not aborting late-in-life babies, which was good. The book also frequently shares first-hand experiences from different late-in-life mothers, which I could see being helpful. However, for someone like me (who is finally experiencing long-awaited pregnancy) it misses the mark and can be a downer. Until reading this book, it never occurred to me that this pregnancy was anything but joy.

Easy, quick read over 2 days.

[casey (ink drinker) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book to put things into perspective. As a happily married 31-year-old woman who just isn’t ready for kids yet but wants them down the road, I was starting to get a little nervous about my “biological clock” What I found, in this book, is a friend and perspective that I desperately needed. There was a beautiful ease to reading an honest approach to mothering, at any age, any stage. It is comprehensive and insightful, giving input from many late in life moms and dads. This book is a must read for anyone contemplating having a child after 35, anyone late in life who is pregnant or have young children. It even has a great chapter for dads. The only gripe I had was that it was heavily religious. I was not expecting that. Otherwise, a great read overall.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that it is important for books like this to exist. However, this book is very Pollyanna, written from a Christian perspective, and written from a very pro-life perspective.