An "Excuse Me?" Moment
By CraftyCorner
@CraftyCorner (5600)
United States
July 14, 2009 3:30am CST
I was reading the Daily Mail (Yea, I know it's reputation according to some) and there in black text on white background on my monitor is a story about a woman who wants to become a mother. OK, that is fairly unremarkable, women all over this planet become mothers, and others wish to become mothers, taking elaborate, expensive measures to do so. It is this woman's age that caused me to have an "Excuse Me?" Moment. She's 72 years of age.
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If her £30,000 plus in rounds of IVF were successful, and she's going for a seventh, baby would find an 82 year old Mum overseeing his tenth birthday party. She would be 90 when he graduates high school, or the British equivalent, the same age as his age mate's grand parents (or great grand parents).
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How old is too hold to answer the ticking clock of motherhood even with the advances of medical science?
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1199527/This-woman-72-spent-30-000-courses-IVF--shes-STILL-trying-baby.html;jsessionid=C7DE1CB8363E173A02D07B79440E63F4
1 person likes this
7 responses
@p3halliwel2005 (3156)
• Philippines
15 Jul 09
I don't think someone at the age of 72 should bear another child. I feel for her but with her age it will be a complicated issue which would include not only her health but also the child's as well. With her age she wouldn't be able to do what a young mother can do for her children and she will just be leaving her at a very young age when she pass on and who will be the one to take care of her. Yes there are the relatives but it's much better to have a mother to grow up with. My mom gave birth to me when she was 50. I am 36 now and she's 81. I was called a menopause baby since they said that when a woman reaches her 50th year she'll be menopause already and won't be able to give birth but I am here and I am glad my mom brought me out of this world not that very old. I guess women at the age of 50 would be able to bear a child but not the 70s one.
1 person likes this
@CraftyCorner (5600)
• United States
17 Jul 09
Yes, menopause babies happen, they can happen up to age 65. Babies can pop up at really wild times indeed, including babies to children in their preteens, although those are tragedies. Our 72 year old is seeking to bear her first child. She forwent children to pursue an academic career until now and is forcing the issue with IVF.
@CraftyCorner (5600)
• United States
17 Jul 09
Sorry, I am 41 and kids with their accompanying massive expenses make me faint. I'm single, child-free, a requirement on my itty bitty fixed income and fractured nerves + health. I just cannot imagine a woman at that age, even if she has the health of a horse, taking on such a responsibility in these economic times. Children are not puppies.
1 person likes this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
14 Jul 09
I think if you can end up pregnant naturally at that age then go for it, though I've never heard of any woman doing it naturally. But when you resort to IVF, I think that's when you and your doctor are playing God. The last thing I'd want to do in my twilight years is change a baby's diapers, it's supposed to be a time to relax and enjoy the slowing down of life. I also think it's selfish to bring a baby into the world when there's a good chance that mom and dad will die of old age long before junior is even school age.
[b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~
**STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]
1 person likes this
@CraftyCorner (5600)
• United States
17 Jul 09
In this case there isn't even a Dad. Dad is a donation of cells plus a medical instrument. She is a hopeful single parent...if she succeeds, which appears to be unlikely, although whoever she's going to seems to be milking her wallet for all it's worth.
@Fortunata (1135)
• United States
14 Jul 09
That's ridiculous, and freakish. I feel sorry for any child born to someone that old. It pisses me off when I see things like this. Some doctors have no morals, that's for sure.
1 person likes this
@CraftyCorner (5600)
• United States
17 Jul 09
No, Frankenstein is not just a character in a fictional novel it would appear.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
15 Jul 09
Hi Craftycorner, this is really crazy, how can any reputable place already have allowed her to spend all that money on IVF. I can understand women wanting children later in life but this is taking it to extremes and surely it wouldn't be possible anyway. I think she is being taken advantage of by any clinics taking her money for this, unless they really want to make a name for themselves out of the resultant publicity. And if it does result in a child it will lose it's anonymity from the moment it is born to the 'oldest mother in the world'.
1 person likes this
@CraftyCorner (5600)
• United States
17 Jul 09
Not everywhere in the world has proper laws set up to manage IVF. Our 72 year old certainly has to leave the UK for her treatments. IVF is still on the scientific frontier.
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There are countries on this planet that turn a blind eyeball to some seriously wild stuff out there. Some clinics in some countries that should know better do too...look at Octo-Mom; the woman had no husband, no job, gave birth to Octuplets yet has six kids at home already. All the children are IVF conceived. Some of those children have mild to severe disabilities, all living on government benefits including Mom who claims she had a back injury from her job! Pregnancy would cause serious problems to back injuries, especially pregnancies with multiple fetuses.
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Medical science has gone bat crap.
@CraftyCorner (5600)
• United States
19 Jul 09
You can't put him or her back in the box if you feel like it either!
@DivePeak (30)
• Fiji
14 Jul 09
Oh, that is so ridiculous if it's true. And completely irresponsible on the part of both the woman and the IVF staff who are treating her. Given that it is extremely unlikely that she will be able to conceive, the IVF staff are simply profiteering and have very questionable ethics.
IF she does have a child, it will suffer social stigma, will likely not be looked after as well as with a younger mother, and will likely have the trauma of having her pass away at a very young age for no reason other than her own selfishness.
And there will be so many joys and experiences other kids will get to enjoy with their parents that will be denied to this child. Just because something*can* be done doesn't mean it*should* be done. While I respect the majority of people participating in IVF, there is a growing trend to push the limits for fame & fortune, or just pure greed.
@CraftyCorner (5600)
• United States
17 Jul 09
Medical science has a tendency to run-a-muck when you wave money at doctors and this is a case in stereo. They are no more immune to glitter-eye than the rest of us mere mortals, the only difference is they have the science of life in their hands.
