As soon as she realised she was pregnant she should have arranged a termination there and then, without telling anybody, least of all her meddling sister Kim (she's such a pain in the ar*e, isn't she?).

I know the pregnancy was further along than she at first thought, but she could still have had a termination before the 20 weeks watershed.

Now she's got herself well and truly saddled and, as Libby says, that's 18 years of her life that she's going to have to put on hold.

Hopefully she'll put it up for adoption, where it can be brought up in a home where it's wanted, amongst people who will actually have jobs that enable them to afford to keep it.

Are you Libby?

You must not have been paying attention. Denise has said many times now that she does not agree with abortions.

Kids huh! Such a bind, such a waste of space, such a lousy trip.

Your sarcasm does you no credit but yes, when you're older than the usual parenting age, you could be right.

Human beings have evolved in such a way that they're best able to cope with the stresses and strains of child rearing when they're young and fit. Nature never intended women to go on having children into older age, that's partly why, in most cases, the menopause kicks in when it does, although of course it'll do it anyway once life's consignment of eggs is exhausted.

Funnily enough Kathy was in the exact same boat as Denise 20 years ago when she was also pregnant with Phil's baby. Kathy was 46 when she gave birth to Ben, looking at them together now though she doesn't look like she was an older mother at all she looks the right age to be Ben's mum. Denise also looks fantastic for her age as well and wont necessarily stick out as an 'older mother'.

Denise is doing the right thing for her, & I think you are being very judgmental. It is her choice, let her live her life.

What a load of ageist nonsense

Child rearing in your 40s is hardly old age

Years ago 46 was ancient. Now 46 is more like 32 (unless you don't take care of yourself)

While I'd normally agree with everyone saying Denise can have a baby if she wishes and age doesn't matter I am actually inclined to agree with the OP what with the way Denise is going about this. Why is she acting so embarrassed about it all and being so secretive not even telling her kids

She is really not acting like a happy new mother to be at all and I can't help wondering if her reasoning in having the baby was some kind of reaction to Libby having an abortion as Libby suggested. There doesn't really seem to be any other reason and what with her being rat arsed when she conceived and Phil's alcoholism I really think abortion should have been more considered.

See below

I'm glad this was referenced in last nights episode Libby going to Kathy for advice as she, like Denise, became a mother again in her late 40s. And the irony that Phil is secretly the father of Denise's late-in-life baby just as he was Kathy's.

If you were carrying the baby of a monster TT you would not be looking happy either.

Did I miss the episodes that Denise was having IVF treatment?

If nature doesn't intend older women to get pregnant then why is it still possible for them to get pregnant? My Nans mum had her when she was 45. Unheard of in those days. But my Nan was perfectly healthy when she was born.

They can get pregnant but you're advised against it as the eggs you have at 46 are the same ones you had all your life which means they are old too, unlike sperm which is made new all your life. This puts the baby at more risk of abnormalities like Down's syndrome.

She doesn't agree with it and there's nothing wrong with that. She shouldn't have to

But if the baby is healthy then there's no reason why a woman should terminate the pregnancy unless she wants to. Not all women agree with abortions like Denise.

Denise might give the baby up once it's born. Kim's already told Denise that she and Vince will take her baby on until Denise is ready to have the baby back.

You're absolutely right there, CHILD rearing in your 40s is fine. But when it

that child goes to University she'll be in her 60s which, for some, can be quite a trying time!

60 is the new 40. Considering that more and more people are living to 100 you're barely half way through your life.

You do realise that the act of abortion is more than just a medical procedure for many people?
Many people are anti abortion for religious or ethical beliefs. Many women believe abortion has its place for others ( younger women etc) but once they become mothers themselves could never go through with it.
Denise has two problems :
1)she doesn't want a baby
2) she doesn't ( didn't ) want an abortion.

I'm hoping that once it's born it will be as glorious as its Auntie Pearl so it will be happy ever after!

Is Denise now planning on keeping the baby? I've missed something somewhere. She was adamant that she was having it adopted, then Kim said they would. Has she now only changed her mind because of grief from Kim?

I thought she was giving it up for adoption?

My friends aunt had her youngest when she was 51 and that was nearly 30 years ago. Her daughter was and still is absolutely fine and, despite the doom and gloom merchants predicting she wouldn't live to see her daughter reach adulthood, the mum turns 80 next month.

Plus termination after 12 weeks is more difficult and not very common outside of medical reasons so Denise would have known that