Amber Heard - the 38-year-old actress best known for her role in Aquaman - is preparing to welcome her second child, according to a report from People magazine.
Heard, now residing in Spain, is reportedly in the early stages of her pregnancy. She is already a mother to three-year-old Oonagh Paige, whom she welcomed through surrogacy in 2021.
While details surrounding her second pregnancy remain scarce, her spokesperson shared on December 5 that she is overjoyed at the prospect of expanding her family.
View this post on Instagram
The spokesperson emphasized that, given the early stage of her pregnancy, further details would be kept private for now.
Journey on her own terms
This new chapter in Heard’s life is a continuation of her journey to motherhood on her own terms. In a heartfelt Instagram post shortly after the birth of Oonagh Paige, Heard reflected on her decision to have a child independently, stating that she had wanted to become a mother for several years before her daughter’s birth.
“Four years ago, I decided I wanted to have a child. I wanted to do it on my own terms,” she shared with her followers. “I hope we arrive at a point in which it's normalized to not want a ring in order to have a crib.”
Heard’s personal decision to start a family without the traditional route of marriage resonates with many women who are increasingly opting for alternative paths to motherhood. This decision also marks a point of independence and self-determination after a tumultuous few years in the public eye.
Impact of age on fertility
At 38, Heard is considered to be an older first-time mother, as fertility generally declines with age. Studies show that as women age, the quantity and quality of their eggs diminish, making it more challenging to conceive. Research has indicated that women under the age of 30 have about an 85% chance of conceiving naturally within a year. However, this drops to approximately 44% by age 40, with the miscarriage rate increasing significantly in older women.
Despite these biological challenges, many women, like Heard, are choosing to have children later in life, with medical advancements such as surrogacy and fertility treatments offering additional options. The decision to start a family at an older age reflects broader social changes, as women seek to balance personal and professional aspirations before embracing motherhood.
Fresh start in Spain
Heard’s relocation to Spain following her divorce from Johnny Depp in 2017 has allowed her to distance herself from the intense media spotlight that dominated her life during her legal battles with the actor. The couple’s highly publicized divorce and subsequent defamation lawsuits garnered worldwide attention, with Depp winning the majority of the claims in a 2022 trial.
Despite the controversies that have shadowed her personal life, Heard seems focused on her family and her future. Her move to Spain appears to be a fresh start, one that provides her with the space to raise her daughter and expand her family away from the prying eyes of the media.
As Heard prepares for the arrival of her second child, her journey continues to inspire discussions around age, fertility, and the evolving concept of motherhood.
While she remains tight-lipped about the specifics of her second pregnancy, her openness about her desire to have children on her own terms remains a poignant part of her story.
