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Worlds Oldest New Mother Dies Leaving Behind Twin Toddlers

 
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The argument that women over 35 should no longer be conceiving has been longstanding and for good reason. After the age of 35 the risks of developing certain medical conditions such as preeclampsia, diabetes, and placenta previa increase, although not much higher than they were when you were 34.

It is after the age of 40 that risks to the mother AND baby significantly increase. Not only is it harder to get pregnant at that age, but the risk of miscarriage, stillbirths, and chromosomal abnormalities also increase.

So, with all of this information available, why would a 66-year-old woman from Spain decide to lie about her age to undergo In-Vitro Fertilization? Was she being selfish or did she have just as much right as say--a 30 year old woman wanting to undergo this procedure?

About a week ago Maria del Carmen Bousada passed away at the age of 69, leaving behind two boys who had yet to turn 3. Shortly after giving birth to twins, she was diagnosed with a tumor but the cause of her death has been undisclosed.

Maria Bousada sold her home, underwent hormone therapy to reverse 20 years of menopause, and deceived doctors telling them she was 55, the maximum age limit for IVF--all for the chance of being a mother. A dream that was extremely short-lived.

Many people say she was being purely selfish, others say that any 30 year old woman can die tomorrow of either natural causes or by accident--leaving young children behind as well. But when you know that you are of advanced maternal age and that your chances of passing away are much, much higher than those of a younger mother, is fair to compare the two?

Was it selfish of her to sell her home if she had no way of providing for her children? What is the maximum age that women should be allowed to bear children through these procedures? Should doctors start asking for birth certificates if their patients look over the age of 40? What kind of future do her children face now that their mother has passed away?

What are your thoughts on the world's oldest mother, now dead?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31921390/ns/health-womens_health/?GT1=43001
http://www.parenting.com/article/Fertility/Planning/Pregnancy-Over-35

Add a Comment62 Comments

(reply to Anonymous)

Anon,

Thank you for an interesting post. May I ask where you live? Has the issue of isolating young mothers and making them wards of the state been an ongoing issue?

September 21, 2009 - 5:29pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Wow did this make me feel bad. I didn't get married until I was almost 37 and was blessed 4 months later to be pregnant with my first child....I now have a beautiful, healthy little boy who is 14 months old. I'm now 39 and think a lot about being older and how I wish that all of this could have happened to me earlier in life.

I don't want to be old. I can't believe I am going to be 40. I don't look almost 40 -still thin and no wrinkles and can out spin any younger girl at the gym and out walk them on my power walks. However, don't think for a moment that I don't envy the younger girls who were blessed to find happiness earlier than I did.

However, I think that God created us to have babies at a variety of ages....and I'm not afraid at all of pursuing the chance of having another amazing bundle of joy to love. I worked for 16 years out of college and am now a stay at home mom. I have the energy, money and time to give a child and hope that I have the chance.

Bottom line, keep your opinions to yourself if you think we are too old. A child is a blessing....
(now I don't think it is quite that smart to do this when you are 66, but at my age I still have a chance folks -don't set me onto that block of ice into the sea yet).

September 7, 2009 - 7:08pm
(reply to Anonymous)

Anon--

I hope the article itself didn't make you feel bad and I sincerely apologize if it did. By no means do I think a 37 year old woman is too old to have a child-- many women decide to wait until they are in their thirties to start having children.

The article was about a woman in her late 60's deceiving mother nature and her doctors only to have a tragic end. Unfortunately, you will see all types of opinions on public forums on topics like this. Just take them with a grain of salt, you are NOT too old to bear children.

September 8, 2009 - 5:42am

First, RIP to her. Secondly, I believe no matter how short-lived her dream was, I am confident that if she would be available to answer comments, she would be telling everyone that she died happily and she died living her dream.

Although what she left behind is a completely different story. I am still certain those boys will become great men someday and they will be proud of what their mother has done regardless of the fact that she knew her chances for bringing them unto this world.

September 5, 2009 - 6:34am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I don't think men or women should be conceiving children in their 50s or later. I think if you want children you should make it a priority and get it done earlier. I do think there are cases when older parenting is great --- i.e. adopting a grandchild the parent can't care for or fostering a child. But I don't think anyone should aim to be a first-time parent after they've hit 50 or even 40.

It's not just risk of parental death or fetal abnormalities that should discourage people from having children so late in life, but quality of life. I look at my three living grandparents, the youngest of whom is 80, and I see all sorts of health problems. All have mobility issues. Two haven't driven in years. Two have dementia. All have had major surgery. All have assistance through in-home care or nursing care. Two have major back problems.

Many diseases or disabilities can be harder for relatives to deal with than death. Given the increased risks of serious ailments with age, it's very hard for me to understand why someone would want to become a first-tome parent so late. The older parent have a good quality of life for the time being, but what happens when the kid is ten and the parent can't drive anymore? What happens when the child is 15 and the parent has to move in to a nursing home?

August 24, 2009 - 7:22am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Sarah was in her 90's!
Genesis 11:11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

August 23, 2009 - 12:12pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Sarah didn't have IVF... and NO despite of all the bible crap, doctors are NOT doing Gods work. IF (hypothetically) it is a completely true story GOD MADE THE DECISION.
Not only that, she was technically younger than 90, because we use the Roman calender...

November 29, 2009 - 7:32pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I agree that the woman in question should not have lied to the doctors. However, maybe we shouldn't judge her as much as feel her pain. Let's have this argument when we're all in our sixties with no children we desperately want, instead of just bitching about how wrong she was. Yes, there were other options (perhaps adoption would have been better for her in this situation), but NONE of us are perfect. Let's try to make ourselves better before we start pointing fingers at others. I feel for the children, I do, and it's sad that their mother died no matter what her age was. But, it happens a lot, children all over the world are without parents from early on. I'm not saying it's right, but maybe if we think about how other people are feeling for a change, instead of being selfish, we would all be a lot better off. This woman isn't the sole reason for the decline of society, it's more like all the people who are judging her who are responsible.

August 19, 2009 - 7:06am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I'm 21 and a week pregnant. Somehow the condom failed and here I am. I'm pro-choice, but decided to keep the baby, and am terrified for me, my partner, and our future child. IMO... I am not ready to have this child, but am taking the responsibility to take care of it. Even then, I believe that I am in a better place to raise an infant that someone who is in their sixties. The magnitude of effort it takes to raise an infant to a healthy adult seems to missed by most people.

How can a child be loved and comforted, when they're worried if mom's safe in her nursing home... at the age of 16.

I'm very cognizant of ageism and today's society. Bias toward the elderly means nothing when you are considering ALL of the day to day activities it takes to rear a child. Even "tasks" such as playing and games would be taxing. Unless this woman is in prime health (which it doesn't sound like it), how would she even be able to PHYSICALLY take care of small children?

And emotionally and mentally. The old are wise, but they're also failing. Considering rate of mental decline, I would not want ANY child to be raised by a 60-70 year old.

August 19, 2009 - 2:11am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

How can you possibly know ur pregnant at a week along? I smell bullshite

November 8, 2009 - 10:20am
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