Paula Abdul on motherhood: That's the next step in my life

American Idol judge Paula Abdul, 45, has accomplished numerous things in her life, but the one thing that she feels she is missing out on is being a mother. However, it is on the radar.

That’s the next step in my life. Definitely within the next two years. I thought by now I’d have three grown children.

The Grammy-award winning singer is not worried about conceiving at her age. If she doesn’t, there are other options she is considering.

With modern medicine, people are having kids in their 40s and even upuntil their late 40s. In their 50s, they’re having their second child. If it doesn’t happen naturally like that, I would alwaysconsider adopting.

And just who would be the father to Paula’s children if she conceives? Well, it may just be her boyfriend of five months, J.T. Torregiani, 32, who Paula describes as one of her best friends.

Source: People

Thanks to CBB reader Mary Beth.

Comments

“If” it doesn’t happen naturally? She’s awfully…”optimistic” I’d say. When there are celebs (whose words are read more than regular folks’) making it sound like having babies in your 40s and 50s is a walk in the park, no wonder so many regular women are surprised when they are trying in their early 40s and are so surprised when they can’t concieve (they should definitely get their medical info from a doc, not a celeb, but still).
And having a 2nd child in your 50s? Oh Paula. Do you want to be getting up in the middle of the night for possibily a year or two, at that age? I could barely do it in my early 30s. I do hope she adopts if it doesn’t occur naturally for her.

- daphneesmith on October 1st, 2007

great file photo. Circa late 90s I’m guessing. She was an attractive woman when her face wasn’t plastic.

- Jane on October 1st, 2007

And now it’s time for our weekly celebrity reminder: fertility is not an accomplishment and having a baby is not something to cross of a to do list.

I’d love to see more celebs adopt OLDER children. My folks adopted my sisters when they were 13. Just my thought.

- sarawara on October 1st, 2007

Wow I’m just 39 and figure I’m screwed at having one naturally at this point, she is in la la land as far as I am concerned. Unless she gets a donor egg.

- Ivey on October 1st, 2007

What’s wrong with making up your mind to you have a child and setting a time frame for when you hope that happens. Paula is in her mid-40s so her hope of a child in two years may not be way off base. I remember when Nicole Kidman said that she hoped to have a biological child some time in the future and people jumped on her for giving people the impression that she had the luxury of time.

I believe that Halle Berry made public statements about wanting to have a child around her 40th birthday and thankfully for her that has happended. Paula like Halle has had a very successful career and maybe she wants something more out of her life.

I too have heard the news reports about the 55 year old or 60 year old grandmother giving birth. It certainly is possible to give birth in your 40s or 50s but the chances are small.

For myself, I can say that having a child is on my list of things I want to do in life. I would also include graduating from law school and marriage on that list is well.

- Di on October 1st, 2007

I’d just like to add since i know age was going to play a role that there are quite a few celebrities in their mid 40′s to have children. Prime examples are Geena Davis and Marcia Gay Harden who are close to 50 and both have twins, and let’s not forget Marcia Cross and Nancy Grace.

I’m not a fertility doctor nor can i be the one to judge but I have no doubt it is difficult to conceive when your older. Heck, one of my good friends is in her early 30′s and having a baby for the first time. Paula is right that modern medicine has come a long way though and since she is a celebrity I’m sure she has more than enough money and the resources to conceive OR adopt if that is her preference.

- Lindsay on October 1st, 2007

Paula is right with a lot of women now.She is being honest and not in la la land. A lot of women get caught up in their careers, can’t find a good mate, etc. and before they know it ,they are in their 40′s and don’t have kids. Then they realize, I wanted to have a family by now. It happens.Life moves fast.It’s almost as if some people are suggesting that women have babies way before they are prepared to take care of a little one.You can’t support a baby if you don’t have a career to bring in money, also the dating pool is really shallow now.I can’t even find a decent man in my age group.I can’t imagine what it’s like for women in their 30′s and 40′s to find someone good whether it be a man or a woman to raise a family with. I think her attitude is good.She is being optimistic.

- Renee on October 1st, 2007

I agree with SaraWara and Daphnee. Fertility is very precious and science can only do much.

- J-Lin on October 1st, 2007

Here we go again. Every time an over 40 celebrity discusses wanting a baby there’s always people in there threads saying that the celebrities are the reason why so many women are so shocked to find out that it’s difficult to get pregnant over 40. The women who are looking to celebrities for medical information need to grow up and do some research and stop blaming celebrities when they don’t take the time to do a little medical research.

- Kate on October 1st, 2007

Ivey: I doubt she is in la la land. She clearly stated in her comment “with modern medicine.”

- Kate on October 1st, 2007

Ok,

Speaking from my own fertility issues and going thru IVF to have my 2nd, 3rd & 4th (twins) I can tell you most fertility Dr. Won’t even do IVF after 42ish with the women’s own eggs. They may if your FSH level is lower but it’s RARE. The stats of IVF with your own eggs in your 40′s is SO LOW.
Nancy Grace, Marcia Cross, Geena Davis These are all celebs having twins in their LATE 40′s. It’s called IVF Donor Egg. Yes @ my IVF dr’s office they have a 70% success rate with IVF/Donor Egg. But your average women getting pregnancy naturally on your mid-late 40′s is SO SLIM. It’s sad that a lot of american women think they can put off having kids because some celeb had a baby in her 40′s (Probably with dr’s help) Then later find out they waited too long. Paula Abdul needs to read a book or talk to a DR.

- Ktwins on October 1st, 2007

It’s science, not magic! I hope she’s able to get pregnant, but I find it amusing how blaze these older celebs are about their baby time frame – she acts like she has all the time in the world. Most fertility clinics won’t even work with you after you pass your early 40′s. I hope she realizes that most of these older celebrity moms use donor eggs. Since the baby may not end up being biologically hers anyway, it would be great to see her open to adoption if it didn’t work out. She has a lot of health problems too that would make pregnancy extra-uncomfortable. She seems like a caring woman though, with a lot of love to give, so I hope she becomes a parent in some fashion.

- PSB on October 1st, 2007

Lindsay has a very good point. There are, in fact, quite a few celeb moms who are in their 40s. Not only that, but the number of “regular” non-celeb moms in their 40s has also increased quite a bit.

That said, keep in mind that Paula said that women are becoming mother’s late in life thanks to “modern medicine”. Therefore, it sounds to me that she is well aware that if she wants to concieve a child at her age, she’ll probably have to undergo fertitilty treatments. At least she is not claiming she thinks concieving naturally will be easy.

As far as celebrities adopting older kids…I see your point, sarawara. However, I also can understand why the vast majority choose not to. After all, adopting an older child (especially a 13 year old) would not give the celeb a chance to raise a baby, which is what most celebs who adopt seem to be desperete to do.

- Annoynomus on October 1st, 2007

Thank you Ktwins thats what I meant to say but you said it better, I just think its very rare that between 45 and 47 you will easily become pregnant even with the assist of modern medicine, your eggs are pretty much gone by then. I get frustrated with women who do wait so long because I’m at the stage where I do not have the opportunity to even try for a baby and then these celebrities with money and husbands/boyfriend are so flippant about when to start trying for a baby.

And by the way I think she would be an excellent mother, regardless of how she gets their.

- Ivey on October 2nd, 2007

anyone know of the best fertility doctor in or around new york city? thanks much in advance.

- jo on October 28th, 2007