Romanian woman gives
birth at 66
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Last Updated:
LAYOUT and PROGRAMMING
BY JAP
Romanian hospital officials say a 66-year-old woman in
Adriana Iliescu says
she expects to live
for many years yet
World's oldest mum
enjoying new lease of life
Adriana Iliescu, who underwent
fertility treatment for nine years before becoming pregnant, is thought to be
the oldest recorded mother.
The girl was born prematurely by
Caesarean section after her twin sister died in the womb, the hospital said.
Ms Iliescu told local television
she had always wanted to be a mother but had been unable to conceive naturally.
A spokeswoman at the
"The mother is doing well.
She is saying she has been given a new lease of life," the spokeswoman
said, according to the Associated Press news agency.
Baby Eliza Maria was
born prematurely
by Caesarean section
Faith
Ms Iliescu, a retired university
professor and author of children's books, was interviewed by Realitatea TV last
month.
She told the station she was
optimistic about her future as a mother, claiming her family had a history of
longevity.
The BBC's
Dr Bogdan Marinescu also said he
had been impressed by her faith in God.
In 2003, a 65-year-old Indian
woman gave birth to a boy.
Schoolteacher Satyabhama
Mahapatra from Nayagarh in Orissa had been impregnated with an egg from her
26-year-old niece that had been fertilised by her husband.
It was the first child for Ms
Mahapatra and her husband, who had been married for 50 years.
Bishop speaks out on 'oldest mum'
BBC ONLINE - Last Updated:
A bishop has questioned the
decision to allow a 66-year-old Romanian woman to have a baby.
Adriana Iliescu, who is thought
to be the oldest recorded mother, gave birth to a girl earlier this week after
nine years of fertility treatment.
The Bishop of Oxford, Richard
Harries, said her age raised serious questions about the morality of the move.
"I think it is inappropriate
to talk about a woman's right to have a child," he said.
"Children are a gift and a
responsibility."
The Bishop, who is a member of
the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, said the woman's desire to
have a child had to be taken into account, but that "the welfare of the
unborn child was the primary concern".
'World's oldest mum' raps
critics
A 66-year-old Romanian woman
thought to be the oldest recorded mother has dismissed concerns that she was too
old and frail to bring up a child.
Adriana Iliescu, who underwent
fertility treatment for nine years, spoke at a
"Each person has a mission
in life, and may be this was my mission," she said.
She also rejected criticism by
the Romanian Orthodox Church which said her actions were "selfish".
"If this child is born, it
is also by the will of God," Mrs Iliescu said at a news conference at the
"Today is a happy day for
me, because I can see my daughter. I have touched her hand and she squeezed my
finger," she said.
She added that "concern
about the coming days is unjustified" because "nobody can predict the
future".
'Baby catching up'
Mrs Iliescu, a retired university
professor and author of children's books, said she hoped the child would follow
in her footsteps.
She said earlier she was
optimistic about her future as a mother, claiming her family had a history of
longevity.
The girl, named Eliza Maria, was
born five weeks premature by Caesarean section after her twin sister died in
the womb.
But doctors said that Eliza
Maria, who weighed just 1.4kg (3lb), was now breathing normally.
"The baby is developing
normally given her prematurity and is catching up, in terms of weight,"
said Bogdan Marinescu.
Dr Marinescu, who carried out the
fertility treatment, earlier justified the procedure by saying she was in an
appropriate condition to give birth.
Mrs Iliescu's case has led to
calls by Romanian officials for a public debate on the medical and ethical
consequences of fertility treatments.
IN DEPTH:
64-year-old woman delivers baby
Indian 'is world's oldest mother'
Women in 50s 'can become mothers'
1Xtra: Too old to have a baby?
JAP 2005