Yikes. Not even sure how to put into words how I feel about this.
Thoughts?
http://news.yahoo.com/german-woman-pregnant-quadruplets-65-reports-134258349.html
Yikes. Not even sure how to put into words how I feel about this.
Thoughts?
http://news.yahoo.com/german-woman-pregnant-quadruplets-65-reports-134258349.html
pomegranate / 3706 posts
Hmm. I'm hesitant to judge other mothers, or put age limits on motherhood. But, I think she's definitely pushing the limits. I understand she feels healthy and fit and good now, but her advanced maternal age means as much as she wishes it to be different, carrying 4 babies will be very hard on her body (as it would be on a woman 20-30 years her junior, but a younger mother would presumably have an easier recovery...usually). I also feel a bit sad that these 4 babies won't have as long with their mother. Of course no one knows how long any of us have here on Earth, however, there is a greater chance that at 65 years old, she'll have less time with her babies than a 35 or 45 year old mother. Also, at 31, I can barely imagine handling the sleepless nights and days with 4 newborns, let alone if I were over 30 years older and attempting it!
grapefruit / 4681 posts
For me personally, it's not a risk I would want to take at 65, since with AMA there is a greater risk of health issues for the babies, even with a singleton, let alone with quads...regardless of the health issues on myself. Besides, in her case she was already blessed with 13 children! I probably would have gotten my youngest a small dog she can baby if they really wanted a sibling that bad lol.
bananas / 9227 posts
Wow. She claims she was surprised, so I'm assuming it was unplanned? I can't imagine many 60 yr olds on any form of contraception ... but then again, she had her last child at 55. It's hard to wrap my mind around that - especially since I'm concerned about my own AMA if I were to get pregnant again (and here I thought I was old ).
I hope she has a smooth pregnancy and delivery. Honestly, she would be my hero -- if at 65 she can do it, then why can't I (at over 35)?
clementine / 903 posts
I can't say I fully agree with what she is doing. But at the same time men have kids at this age all the time so I hesitate to judge too much. Also, puts into perspective that some people get all up tight about having kids at 30, 35, or 40 when none of those ages are really all that old.
grapefruit / 4681 posts
@SugarplumsMom: She had artificial insemination. Another article said both donated sperm and egg.
persimmon / 1316 posts
@SugarplumsMom: It says the pregnancy followed several attempts at artificial insemination abroad. I'm wondering if there are any age limits in the US as to how old a mother would be for them to deny fertility treatments.
@erinpye: Yeah I really worry for her and the babies health. That is so high risk even for a mother in her 20's or 30's I can't imagine how tough it will be on her body.
@anbanan15: Yeah a dog would sure have been an easier companion for the youngest at this time in her life.
grapefruit / 4681 posts
@Mrs.Pinecone316: This article has some additional information that is interesting (age range of children, number of fathers etc) and a picture of the growing bump.
pomelo / 5607 posts
@anbanan15: Gotta admit, the picture of a woman that age with a bump was kind of shocking. I think it drove home how old she is compared to the usual age for being pregnant.
I want to say that I'm fine with it, not judge, etc, but it's really hard. I wonder what it will be like financially for them, with her planning to retire. Though I believe Germany is a bit easier on raising a family in a lot of ways?
bananas / 9899 posts
I'll admit that at first I was full of judgement/questions on how she'll do this, what this means, ect... What I find craziest is not her age by itself, but that she already has 13 kids and opted to try and have more at such an advanced age. It seems odd to me to do fertility treatments when you already have that many children, nevermind at 65.
But in the end it's her life. If she feels she can do this (physically and financially) and give these babies a good life, all the power to her!
persimmon / 1316 posts
@anbanan15: Just read it.. interesting they say it was donated sperm AND eggs with artificial insemination because that isn't possible, she would have had to do IVF if that was the case.
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
I know it's not the nice or PC thing to say, but I'll say it anyway- I think this is really irresponsible. There are major risks involved- for those four babies and the mom- who still has young children to take care of. I don't see why they would have used four embryos- don't they not even usually do that in young healthy women now? Not my life but yeah... But I hope she continues with a healthy pregnancy and carries them as long as possible.
grapefruit / 4418 posts
@Foodnerd81: I may have missed it, but did the article specify 4 embryos were implanted? I can't imagine it would be the case, since she said 4 was a surprise...
In the end my feelings are, it's her body and her choice.
grapefruit / 4681 posts
@Mrs.Pinecone316: I wonder if it has something to do with the story getting translated from other languages? Who knows what form of fertility treatment was actually used, but clearly something was used.
grapefruit / 4455 posts
It is her choice and clearly she is doing what she wants, but I do think this is too much.
eggplant / 11287 posts
I'm not gonna be politically correct. It's weird and it's reckless, IMO.
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
Who am I to judge? Whatever makes her happy as long as she's aware that the end result could be that she leaves her other kids motherless.
There was a 70 year old woman who gave birth to twins a couple years ago.
I used to be more judgey about this stuff and then I became a mom in my 40's and know lots of other women doing it. I have one friend who is currently pregnant at 50.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
@Mrs. Jacks: I think the part that gets me though is that she already has 13 children. I think that's a completely different scenario than a ftm in her 40s/50s.
pineapple / 12526 posts
Yeah, Im gonna join the "this is batshit" club. I think it's insane and kind of selfish. And frankly, irresponsible.
apricot / 296 posts
@Mrs.Pinecone316: wow! Just wow! Speechless. sorry but 65????? No words, I better keep them to myself.
cantaloupe / 6634 posts
Hmmm...I think it's interesting that she waited nearly ten years to have more children because she wanted "playmates" for her daughter. Ten years is a huge deal. I can't help but wonder what her true motivation is, especially since she has already had so many children.
Ultimately, it's her decision and my opinions have no bearing on that but it seems really unwise.
eggplant / 11824 posts
This is insane. 65 is a totally different ballgame from 40's or even early 50's. I'm all in favor of empowering "older" pregnancies, but 65 is just insane.
honeydew / 7303 posts
I think it's weird. I also find it strange her motivation was that her 9year old wanted a sibling...that just makes no sense to me! Maybe something got lost in translation
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
@catomd00: fair point- I guess it could have been two and they split into identical twins? Is that right? I still think it's not responsible all around but that part may be moot.
pomegranate / 3845 posts
I think men having kids without fertility interventions at 65 is completely different than using donated sperm, donated eggs, and fertility medication to get pregnant as a woman at 65. Not to mention, a 65 year old father wouldn't be carrying the pregnancy or going through childbirth and postpartum recovery.
Crazy is all I can say.
pineapple / 12053 posts
I agree with PPs who said this is reckless and irresponsible. And I think it's irresponsible for the doctors who helped her too. @Mrs. Jacks: there is a huge difference between 40s and 65!
nectarine / 2591 posts
To follow on from what @Applesandbananas: said in that I assume a 65 year old father would be having a child with a younger woman usually, which means they would hopefully have at least one parent for a good portion of their life. Two 65 year old parents isn't a whole lot of life expectancy for a new child.
pomelo / 5866 posts
I think she loves kids, wants kids, is able to raise kids. Any of us might drop dead tomorrow or have a baby with health issues so I don't like playing judge with a crystal ball. There are mature people who are great parents and younger ones who are really not capable and vice versa so who is to say. Even if she does die early, the offspring will not be alone as they have tons of family- brothers and sisters to take care and look out for them. I like the fact mentioned that she is not listening to others' opinions on such a decision. It really is an individual choice.
pomegranate / 3764 posts
If this was done via fertility treatments, as some articles imply, it makes me feel quite angry at the clinic(s) involved.
There are protocols in place for reasons. This is pretty insane.
Also.... my IF hat on here, but there are so many women struggling for a child, and then we have articles like this floating around.... it makes me sad how the world works sometimes.
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
@yellowbird: I echo this thought. So you're having a baby because your 9 year old wants a sibling? OKay then. Is that 9 year old going to raise that baby in 10-15 years? Because it's not an infeasible option!
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
This leaves me wanting more information, honestly...and that makes me uncomfortable. It's as if I have to go through a list of criteria to decide if it's okay or not, and that makes me mad at myself because who am I to judge? Age, method, family structure, finances, etc are all so variable.
pomegranate / 3314 posts
Eh... I try not to be judgmental in these situations, but this is a giant nope to me. Honestly, it sounds to me like there is some kind of mental illness at play here - it's just too weird to have this extreme desire to keep reproducing when the risks are so high AND you already have 13 children.
pomegranate / 3032 posts
@blackbird: I both agree and disagree with your response. I do think that the mother should not be having a child to satisfy her youngest child's desire to be an older sibling. As it stated in the article the mother has 7 grandchildren making her youngest an aunt several times over. She could have steered her youngest towards bonding with the younger children in the family, if this pregnancy was truly motivated by her child's desire for a younger sibling.
As for the age difference, I was 9 when my only sibling was born and at 20 my parents put it in their will that i would be his legal guardian if something were to happen to them. Now I dont expect this woman to put all 4 babies in care of her 9 year old but i assume that one of the older siblings would be responsible for them if something were to happen to the mother. And I hope this woman was responsible enough to include that person in the discussion before she started the process of becoming pregnant at 65.
pomelo / 5257 posts
I agree with PPs that this seems irresponsible. I also think it seems pretty unethical of the clinic or doctor who performed the fertility treatments.
honeydew / 7230 posts
As a mother of multiples myself (albeit, HALF the number she is getting here!) I will just say that I hope they are good eaters, good sleepers, and some of those other 13 children are going to be around a long time to help her. I cannot even imagine having four at a time at my age (30), let alone what that'd be like at 65.
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
@Chillybear: my mom just turned 65. If she asked me if I would be the guardian of children she was trying to have via fertility treatments, I would be very concerned for her mental health and would try to get her to see a therapist, not an RE. Of course, her youngest child is 26, not 9, but she and my dad together are exhausted after taking care of one grandchild for a day.
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