Hilary Swank, aged 52, is expecting her third child, as revealed by the Yellowjackets star. The two-time Oscar winner, who already has twins named Aya and Ohm with her husband Philip Schneider, froze her eggs at 37 and welcomed her twins at the age of 48 in 2023.
Swank shared the exciting news through a playful Instagram video where her family was seen dancing in a dimly lit room with glow sticks on their bodies, creating the illusion of stick figures. In the video, Swank turned around to display a small glow-stick figure on her belly, hinting at her pregnancy.
In the caption of the video, she humorously mentioned, “A lot of people have been asking what project I’m doing next. This one releases in December,” accompanied by a baby angel emoji, indicating the expected due date.
Expressing her joy about having children later in life, Swank emphasized how being an older parent has made her more patient and understanding, allowing her to be fully present with her kids while maintaining her established career.
Renowned for her acting prowess, Swank clinched her first Oscar at 25 for her role in the 2000 film Boys Don’t Cry, and secured a second best actress Oscar in 2004 for Million Dollar Baby. Recently, she graced screens in popular series like Netflix’s Away and Showtime’s Yellowjackets.
Aside from her acting career, Swank has been active in advocating for transparency in product ingredients, pushing for legislation that mandates disclosure of components in diapers and prenatal vitamins.
Joining a growing trend, Swank is among celebrities embracing late pregnancies, a phenomenon on the rise in North America. Statistics indicate a significant increase in births to women aged 35 and older, with 21% of births in the U.S. in 2023 being to mothers in this age group, compared to just 9% in 1990.
While natural pregnancies remain possible until menopause, the likelihood decreases with age. Modern technologies like egg-freezing and in vitro fertilization (IVF) have enabled later-stage pregnancies, albeit at a significant financial cost. These methods offer individuals the option to preserve eggs at a younger age, safeguarding against age-related fertility decline until they are ready to start a family.
Despite advancements in medical care enhancing the safety of pregnancy and childbirth, experts caution that advanced maternal age poses a heightened risk of complications. Although egg-freezing is gaining popularity in Canada, the associated costs, averaging between $12,000 to $15,000 in 2024, may present a financial barrier to many prospective parents.