In China, a 67-year-old has reportedly given birth to a healthy daughter by caesarean section. "The baby was given to us both," said 68-year-old father, according to news site guancha.cn, whose reporter said the couple visited the hospital in Zaozhuang City.
The birth on Friday had gone without complications, mother and child were well, it said. The girl is currently still in intensive care. The condition of the mother is roughly comparable to other pregnant women, said a caring nurse.
When the 67-year-old went to the hospital in April to be examined for numerous complaints, she had thought that these would be related to her menopause. But she learned that she was three months pregnant. The couple initially could not believe it and was also ashamed, the man tells the website. But they had decided against the Council of the hospital to get the child because it was "a godsend".
However, the couple had some worries in advance: "My wife has been sick for a long time: She had a cerebral infarction, high blood pressure, arthritis and diabetes," said the father of the child. She had to take many medications. "She was afraid that our daughter would not be well."
40-year-old sister breaks off contact with parents
The state newspaper Global Times reports that the girl named Tianci has an 18-year-old niece and two siblings about 40 years older. One of the sisters allegedly broke off contact with their parents when she learned of her mother's pregnancy. "I do not care what my other kids say," the father now told The Global Times.
In the Twitter-like short message service Weibo called the birth of the child criticism. Users accused the egoism of the parents. "At an advanced age, they are unable to look after a child and the pressure will be on their older siblings," a user wrote. Other users asked if the couple would be punished for their violation of the two-child policy in place since 2016.
more on the subject
With the introduction of the two-child policy, the birth rate in the People's Republic has not risen as much as expected. However, more older Chinese women are now opting for a second child.
Although the reports suggest it and the couple claims this, a medical statement was left open as to whether the parents actually conceived the child naturally. In Central Europe women on average have their last ovulation at the age of 52, after which no egg cells mature. Women with children at this age are therefore dependent on artificial insemination and egg donation.
Pregnancy beyond the menopause can be problematic, as the cardiovascular system and the entire organism become weaker with age and the hormonal changes also greatly affect the sexual organs. The uterus is a hormone-dependent muscle in which before the menopause, the mucous membrane for implantation of the fertilized egg cell builds up and the mucous membrane is repelled when no pregnancy occurs. After menopause, the hormone concentrations and thus the uterine muscle change.
Despite the increased risks, there are always reports of mothers over 50 years ago. About three years ago, for example, an Indian woman became mother for the first time at the age of 70. A well-known case in Germany is the quadruple birth of Annegret Raunigk at the age of 65. Both women were artificially fertilized.