Nielsen’s path to a baby at 54 was rocky, worth it
Brigitte Nielsen is reveling in the birth of daughter Frida last June. But the “Rocky IV” star, who makes a knockout return to the screen in “Creed II,” says the long struggle to have the child at age 54 was an “emotional roller coaster.”
“I have given hope to a lot of woman. I get so many letters, emails and they are happy and excited,” says Nielsen, now 55. “But you have to be realistic. I would say it’s not for all women. You have to really look into your self, in your soul and heart.”
Nielsen says she spent 11 years trying to conceive through in vitro fertilization with husband Mattia Dessi, 40. It was “heartbreaking” for both when pregnancy tests were negative, despite medical efforts. Her doctor warned her that there was less than a 3 percent chance of succeeding.
“My doctor said that it’s better to think that you are not going to get pregnant. ‘ Keep it realistic. And if you still want to fight for it, that’s fantastic,’ ” says Nielsen, discussing the expensive and emotionally taxing process. “There are other ways to have children. ... But for me personally, it has been fantastic.”
The model and actress says she was on her last try before medical professionals were going to stop the process.
“The last year is 54; at 55, they close the door. That’s it. And I said that I cannot take it anymore,” says Nielsen. “But then I got pregnant.”
Next, Nielsen had to deal with the physical and psychological realization of having a baby at an age when many are preparing for retirement. She already is the mother of four grown children.
“It was like, ‘Are you ready for this?’ Of course, life is different at 55 than it is at 25. I had my first son when I was 20 years old, I had no idea what I was doing,” she says. “People don’t believe me, but it’s easier now. I swear to God.”
Nielsen, in her fifth marriage, is in a more grounded place in her life – after completing a successful stint in alcohol rehab in 2007 and joining VH1’s “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew” in 2008. Having her child was a goal she and her husband strove for in a stable marriage.
“I’m going to do everything for this little girl. I’m mature,” says Nielsen. “I’ve been through the hurdles of my life. I’ve seen the good and the bad. When I fell down, I got up again. I’ve become a stronger person. I have more energy than when I was younger. And I’m much more thoughtful and prepared.”
Frida makes it easier with her disposition (”She was born on a happy planet”). At 5 months, her daughter sleeps through the night and is content even through a transatlantic flight. “She wakes up each day and she smiles,” says Nielsen, before laughing. “I had four boys and they were nothing like that.”