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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
Having children is a long journey and even though we don't know what is ahead, at 66 years she would have known her time is less than the average aged mum. Yes, I think it was selfish of the mum and foolish of the IVF doctor who did it. If she needed IVF then that is her bodies way of saying "I can't do this!". I feel sorry for those young boys without a mum.
July 26, 2009 - 2:27pmThis Comment
There is a GREATER chance an older woman will die of a disease/complications than a younger woman. Of course it is selfish to have a baby that late! Having a baby means realizing what lies ahead (taking care of the baby, child, teenager; school; relationships, etc) and not just babies are cute or "look what I've got". No one plans for the emergencies in life (getting hit by a car). We deal with it if it comes. There is a reason why women have a "reproductive" window of opportunity....
July 25, 2009 - 8:26amThis Comment