Worlds Oldest Mother Issue

[supersuezy24]

I seen this story as I was looki ng at another link, my apologies if it has been posted before but does anyone else find this a bit disturbing??
It makes me ask so many questions, Like why would a doctor willingly give a 70 year old woman IVF treatment?? Does the mother honestly think that at 70 she is going to be around for the child for years to come? (Granted I know women live a lot longer than 70).

http://www.dailymail....an-reveals-dying.html

What are your views on this??

[ummmm]

Poor children is what I say....

[squarebear]

What's all this fuss about the world's oldest mother at 70? My mother is 82, beat that!

[supersuezy24]

If they are so poverty stricken why are they getting further into debt by getting loans for IVF??

[jaffa cake]

i think it goes against nature, fair enough if you need help to get pregnant when younger but not at 70 you should be having grandchildren by then or jusy enjoying life.

[ummmm]

My Nan is 80....and my Grandad 86...

[cazzz1975]

why would anyone want to have kids at that age? bizarre! :/

[supersuezy24]

I find it selfish of the parents having a baby to escape a stigma and putting themselves in debt to do so. She says nothing about not been there for the child when she dies.

[redcrx]

the mum did it because she could, someone lent her money she could ill afford, a doctor was willing to accept that money and give her what she wanted regardless of the fact that the mother is old and frail and could not cope.

The doctors, possibly, do the IVF on these women because its something they are proud of, that they can go against nature and create the worlds oldest mothers.

I really feel for the children, its cruel to them in so many ways

[supersuezy24]

But is there not an ethic issue behind it, are the doctors not aware that it is a potential danger to the woman at that age?? If a 70 year old woman went to a hospital in Ireland or the UK for IVF would they be turned away?

[andy-hughes]

There is a cultural issue here, which in part explains the couple's desire for children, but not the ethical responsibility of providing the means for them to achieve that desire - both financial and medical.

I have always believed that children are a gift, not a right, and I do not say that lightly. I was sad enough that we were unable to have a fourth child, but delight in the three we have, and accept my extreme good fortune.

I know that nature provides a 'cut-off' point for a very good reason - the simple physical strain of caring for growing babies and children. I am a 'young' grandparent, and my gradchildren wear me out, which is fabulous, because they return home while i recover - if this was 'home', then I never would!

To return to your Question - I think the mother knows that her time with her child(ren) is short, but the cultural pressure is such that it makes the situation worthwile for her.

The same cannot be said of Western women exercising what they believe is their 'right' to have a child far too biologically late in life.

[supersuezy24]

Good post andy, I find her selfish for not obeying doctors orders to take things easy thus leading to her not recovering properly and now dying, why did she not care about leaving her child motherless? Granted she may feel that she needed to work to get money etc but at what expense. I feel sorry for the children in these cases. Is there no logic to their reasoning but just that there may be a stigma attached to them in regards not having a child.. What about their life expectancy and being there for the child!

[andy-hughes]

I think supersuezy that you are approaching this from a 'Western' perspective, where your first thoughts are for the welfare and future of the child(ren) in question.

I do believe that in Eastern cultures, the over-riding social stigma places itself very firmly in the front of the minds of the people there, and that is what must be addressed, with all other considerations following - if considered at all.

I have used this argument in regard to the situations in Afghanistan and Iraq - on one side you have an invading army who are instructed to 'do the job', and it is a 'job'. and on the other hand, you have residents who are perfectly happy to die to protect their way of living against invaders - including taking the fight into the invaders' countries and reprising acts of terrorism on their innoncecnt populations.

Cultural differences aside, as you do, I feel deeply for the children left behind, and can only hope that the sense of family responsibility which works hand in hand in these cultures (and leaves our standing!) - will ensure that the children are provided for and looked after when their parents have gone.

[supersuezy24]

I do blame the doctors as well but as Andy says it's different cultures but the underlying thing for me is why give a 77 year old woman IVF treatment knowing of the potential complications of the pregnancy and birth itself..

[wooliej]

Isnt there now a mother of 66 just given birth to triplets? Don't know abut her, but with my menopausal brain if I put my keys down I can't find them - would have no chance with babies.

[supersuezy24]

Yes woolie and they are scariily underweight, 2 are around 2lb and another is 1lb..