SIGNING for her latest Temu shipment, Michelle Cisco-Pinheiro had no idea it would be the package to change her life.
Packed inside amongst her other is the thing that will silence her trolls for good.
Michelle Cisco-Pinheiro became a mum for the first time at 47 to her son Emmanuel Zane
She was told it was ‘impossible’ for her to get pregnant but she conceived naturally
Emmanuel was born four weeks early and welcomed by his delighted parents Michelle and Nilton
A £1
It lay unused in her home for years until April 2024 when she used it to discover she was expecting her
At 47, Michelle believed that she might never have children with her Nilton, then 37, with even saying he should have left her.
But Michelle welcomed her son Emmanuel Zane on 2 January this year after years of trying to .
The mum learned her chances were “impossible” after suffering at 18 before later being diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Despite coming to terms with her reality, Michelle says she never truly got over the heartbreak.
But her world was turned upside down when she suddenly started feeling unusually hungry in April 2024 – something she hadn’t experienced since her surgery a few years earlier.
She eventually decided to use a pregnancy test she bought off for $1.50 (£1.10) years earlier – and to her shock, it came back positive.
“I honestly thought it was impossible,” the mum-of-one, now 48, says.
“I’d prayed about it for years, but eventually I accepted I’d never be a mum.
“Then suddenly, just before my 47th birthday, I took one of those cheap tests and it said pregnant.
“I thought it had to be faulty.
“When I showed my husband Nilton, he thought I was pranking him.
“I’d already taken about 10 of them – every single one was positive.
“When it sank in, we both cried, we just couldn’t believe it.
“After everything, it was the biggest miracle of my life.”
Michelle, who lives in Augusta, Georgia, with husband Nilton, 38, says the pregnancy was mostly smooth for the first five months before she went into pre-term labour several times.
Despite being considered high-risk, she gave birth to Emmanuel four weeks early in a “fast and overwhelming” birth.
Michelle discovered she was pregnant after taking a £1 Temu pregnancy test she had for years
Trolls previously told her they were surprised Nilton, ten years her junior, hadn’t ‘left her’
Nilton thought that his wife’s positive pregnancy test was a ‘prank’
And although she feels blessed to finally have a son, Michelle says it hasn’t stopped vicious trolls from sending cruel messages online – while other mums in real life have judged her for becoming a parent later in life.
She says: “One woman actually said to my face, ‘I thought your husband would’ve left you by now.’
“I couldn’t believe it. After everything I had been through, for someone to say that was beyond cruel.
“Some people even told me I should get an abortion because of my age. They said it wasn’t fair on the baby or that I wouldn’t cope.
“There have been nasty trolls saying terrible things that I’ve had to block.
“It hurts, but I focus on the messages from women who’ve told me I’ve given them hope after years of trying.”
Every little milestone feels incredible. From his first smile to his first tooth, I cherish it all
Michelle Cisco-Pinheiro
But Michelle is certain that becoming a mum later in life has worked in her favour.
She believes she’s calmer, wiser and far more patient than she ever was in her 20s and 30s – and says baby Emmanuel is getting the very best version of her.
She says: “I feel like I’m a better parent now than I ever would’ve been in my 20s. Back then I was silly and immature.
“Now I’m grounded, more patient, and I can give Emmanuel everything he deserves.
“My ultimate goal now is to be at home with him. Work isn’t as important as these moments. I want to be there for everything – crawling, rolling over, walking. I just feel so lucky to finally be his mum.
“Every little milestone feels incredible. From his first smile to his first tooth, I cherish it all. I don’t want to miss a single thing – he’s my miracle.”
However, Michelle says she was “absolutely terrified” when she first discovered she was pregnant at 47.
‘Yes, it’s a tough option – but there are positives, too’
SENIOR fertility nurse Marija Skujina is the founder of clinic Plan Your Baby.
She says: Becoming a mother later in life can present unique challenges for a woman’s physical and mental health.
As women age, their bodies undergo natural changes that can make pregnancy, childbirth and the early years of parenting more physically demanding.
Additionally, women who have children later in life may experience menopausal symptoms during the same period they are raising young children.
Hormonal changes associated with menopause can lead to mood swings, fatigue and difficulty sleeping, all of which can add to the challenges of parenting.
That said, many older mothers bring life experience, emotional maturity, and financial stability to parenting, which can contribute to a positive family environment.
She admits her first thought was how much older she was than other mums, worrying she’d be “the oldest in the playground” while her friends were already watching their children graduate.
She says: “All my friends are grandparents now.
“My friends from high school have kids graduating high school and college – and I’m just starting. I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m going to be the grandma on the playground.’
“I was ecstatic but scared. The flip side of having a baby later in life is you do worry more – I worry about his childcare, I worry about everything.
“When you’re younger you’re silly and carefree, but now I’m cautious about everything.
“Every day with Emmanuel feels like a gift.
“I may have started later than most, but being his mum now is perfect timing. I wouldn’t change a single thing – he’s my miracle, and I finally feel complete.”
Michelle admits that she ‘panicked’ when she discovered she was pregnant
But she says she wouldn’t change a single thing and that she ‘finally feels complete’ 
