As a San Francisco-based portrait photographer (www.tarahphotography.com) I noticed a trend in my clientele: that more and more women were in their late 30’s or early 40’s and pregnant. Inspired by the changing face of pregnancy I decided to photographed women who were pregnant and 40-years-old or older for a special project to empower and inspire other women.

I started this project because women are judged to harshly on their age. I had my son when I was 34 years old. My husband and I would love to have another baby but it hasn’t happened yet for us. So, three years later we’re still trying to conceive and now I am looking to other women who have pioneered motherhood in their late 30’s and early 40's.”
It’s a fact that more women over 40-years-old are having children according to the 2016 National Vital Statistics Report from the Centers for Disease Control. Sure, it’s a small number — birth rate is 10.6 per 1,000 women between the ages of 40 and 44. But it’s a trend that’s been emerging for decades. There are many factors that weigh into women waiting longer to have children. “By spending the first 37 years of my life focused on myself, my career, my friends, interests, and my marriage, it allows me to focus my 40’s on being a parent,” said Marta, an expecting 41-year-old mom living in Marin.
Age is Just a Number
“I have never cared about my age,” said Mariama, an expecting 40-year-old mom living in San Francisco. “It has empowered me to feel free from the pressures you receive from society that you may not be able to have a baby once you hit 40.”

I believe that motherhood should be celebrated at every age. My “Pregnancy After 40 Project” is a tribute to women who are conceiving later and to women who are thinking about it. Age is just a number after all.
“I think it empowers you because it’s rare. Not every woman can have children and to have them at 40 is really nothing far from a miracle,” said Juliana, an expecting 43-year-old mom living in San Diego. “It’s a precious gift that only you can bear in your womb. You have beaten the odds. So it makes you want to show the world it’s a great thing. It not only empowers you but also gives you strength and stamina to keep up with your family.
To see the photos and stories from the “Pregnancy After 40 Project” visit: http://www.tarahphotography.com/pregnancy-40-project.
