Mandy Moore Laments Being Treated Like 'An Anomaly' While Pregnant In Her 40s

Like many older mothers in her situation, Mandy Moore's decision to expand her family did not come without some unwarranted opinions.

The actress is recalling her experience as a pregnant older woman whose blessing was accompanied by lots of stereotypes, especially in the healthcare sector.

Mandy Moore welcomed her third child with her husband, Taylor Goldsmith, on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, following their May announcement of the same year.

The talented actress broke things down on Kylie Kelce's podcast "Not Gonna Lie" after being asked if people had a lot to say about her pregnancy with her now 7-month-old infant.

Moore gave a split answer and emphasized the fact that most women within her age bracket (40+) are actually doing very well with pregnancies, whether they choose to have these children or it just happens.

However, she noted that what she had the most trouble with was the health system, which treated women who got pregnant later in life like an "anomaly" who had "complicated" or "high-risk" cases. She added that the whole mental gymnastics was unnecessary, as they are all just humans at the end of the day.

She described the stereotype as an outdated approach to handling these pregnancies. In her words: "So it's less about how I think the people and the perceptions they may have had, like the people in my life, it was just more about the healthcare system in general."

Moore slammed the health sector that after three pregnancies, women's bodies are still very much handled with less care. She recalled partnering with a company, Perelel, during her pregnancy, stating:

"And I love that there are these companies like Perelel that are focused on rewriting the rules of what it looks like to care for women and advocating for, really, for funding of women's health."

For this year's heartwarming Mother's Day, Moore chose to applaud her mom, Stacy Moore, for her resilience in raising her alongside two other siblings.

She shared pictures of herself and her mother alongside her grandmother, Eileen. In her caption, she wrote: "Happy Mother's Day to all the moms and mother figures in our lives, including my own mama who juggled 3 kids effortlessly (HOW!??)."

Moore acknowledged that being a mom is the "single greatest gift" of her life, with immense satisfaction despite the arduous task of "worrying or stressing or planning."

According to her, the joy of looking after the kids triumphs every that comes with it. She remained grateful to the mothers in her life, "who model what it takes, lend an ear, make the best suggestions." She lauded them for making the journey of motherhood less lonely and daunting.

The baby girl, named Louise Everett Goldsmith, according to their online announcement following her birth, shared her name with some famous figures around the world.

As seen on Parents, the name Louise is of French origin and means "renowned warrior." The name has a strong royal heritage in various nations, including Denmark, Sweden, France, and England.

The late Queen Elizabeth even named her daughter Louise. Other notable individuals with the same name include singer Louise Redknapp and actress Louise Lasser.

According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), Louise has ranked among the top 1,000 baby girl names in almost all the years since 1900. It experienced a decline in 1991 but returned in 2016, ranking at 895 in popularity. In 2023, the name ranked as the 586th popular name.

It was more popular in the first half of the 20th century, when it was among the 100 most common names. It was also tagged a leading boy name in the majority of years between 1900 and 1936.

As for Everett, it originated from Germany and means "brave boar." Some famous faces, including politician Everett Dirksen, actor Everett McGill, and the late actor Everett Sloane, also share the name.

Moore shared in 2023 that being pet owners after they got married in 2018 prepared them for what parenting little humans may feel like. As seen on The Blast, the actress noted that their three rescue cats were in the picture before their boys came into their lives.

The unique nature of cats, and how they switch between distance and affection, gave them a glimpse into the possibility of mood shifts in their owners.

"I like that you go on a trip, and it's not immediate like, 'Oh my gosh, you're back!' It's like, 'Hey, yeah, I'll come around when [I'm] ready.' I'm like, 'Cool, cool, cool. I'll give you your space," she explained, adding that they are also extremely affectionate when they choose to be.

Their pets also taught the benefits of patience and responsibility in order to earn someone's trust and affection.

The actress and her husband, alongside their children, were forced to leave their mansion behind and find safety after the devastating fire hit the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles.

Described as the largest fire outbreak in Pacific Palisades, the disaster displaced tens of thousands of families who were forced to exit their homes under mandatory evacuation orders.

In her Instagram repost reacting to the fire, she thanked the first responders for coming to the rescue of many families but remained heartbroken over the plight of many more residents.

"Grateful for the kindness of friends, that we had a place to land last night. Trying to shield the kids from the immense sadness and worry I feel," the actress added.

She rounded up her post, declaring prayers for everyone in Los Angeles, adding that she was gutted about the destruction and loss. Moore was also unsure if their house was still standing after the blazing flames ravaged the area.

Mandy Moore is doing a fine job as a mom, and that is all that matters!