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News

Woman in 60s 'pregnant through IVF'

189 replies

Tutter · 04/05/2006 08:36

(from yahoo! news)

raises some interesting questions i think - like why do we have kids? for whose benefit? is she being selfish? or is she as justified as you or i?

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A controversial Italian fertility doctor has helped a British woman in her early 60s to become pregnant, it was reported.

Patricia Rashbrook, a child psychiatrist from Lewes, East Sussex, is now seven months' pregnant after being given IVF treatment by Severino Antinori, according to The Sun.

The newspaper reported she was 63 - which would make her the oldest British mother when she gives birth.

Dr Rashbrook's husband, John Farrant, refused to comment on the story but said his wife

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was younger than 63.
He told The Sun: "My wife is seven months' pregnant. We are of course both very happy and looking forward to the birth. Obviously at our age it is quite daunting.

"I would not call it a miracle baby but an assisted conception. We were aware this was going to come out and we have been preparing ourselves psychologically for the news to break."

Dr Rashbrook, who already has two children from her first marriage, flew to Rome last October for treatment, The Sun reported.

Antinori, who runs a private fertility clinic in Rome, first made headlines in 1994 by helping a post-menopausal 63-year-old woman become pregnant with donor eggs and hormones.

He has said in the past he aimed to be the first to produce a baby cloned from an adult. In 2004 he claimed that he knew of three cloned babies that had been born but refused to produce any evidence, citing legal reasons.

Previously Britain's oldest mother was hill farmer Liz Buttle, from Wales, who was 60 when she gave birth to a son called Joseph in 1997. The oldest woman in the world to give birth is thought to be Adriana Iliescu, from Romania, who had a daughter called Eliza Maria in January 2005 at the age of 66.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 04/05/2006 15:56

She really is 63. And I still think that's just too old. Just my opinion, but I think there should be a cut off for some of these procedures.

\link{http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4971930.stm\BBC report}

velcrobott · 04/05/2006 16:25

Expat - I am one of at least 3 who has been diagnosed with premature menopause on THIS website (i was 36)... so didn't like reading that menopause happens for a reason... I wasn't "finished" having kids Sad

Also I find you all very judgmental Sad

velcrobott · 04/05/2006 16:27

BTW they live about 30 mins from me and were on the local news this AM.
They have no child togeher - it's her 2nd husband.

elliott · 04/05/2006 16:28

actually I don't really disapprove of this. I think each case has to be considered on its merits and most people who go to these lengths to have a baby really, really want one and there is no reason to think they won't be good parents. and whatever anyone may say about selfishness, at the end of the day, I think we all do it (have children) because we WANT to, not for selfless altruistic reasons.

velcrobott · 04/05/2006 16:29

Here here Elliott!!!

expatinscotland · 04/05/2006 16:29

On the whole, however, velcro, it does happen for a reason otherwise it would start to evolve out. I know that's not what you want to hear, but a lot of things which we no longer have use for as humans evolve out - some people never get wisdom teeth or are born w/o an appendix, for ex.
The sickle cell gene is still in the human population b/c it protects against malaria. But apparently there are signs that it, too, is slowly evolving out in populations where malaria isn't a threat.

Sorry, but we've been expressing opinions here, and mine remains unchanged. I think it's too old to have a baby at 63.

motherinferior · 04/05/2006 16:29

I think my problem isn't so much with menopause as longevity. As VB says, some women become menopausal at an age where others (like me) haven't even had them yet. However, my own experience of having children later, and the contemplation of my own mortality that has inevitably involved, makes me wonder about having babies in your 50s and over. One reason I can't face having another baby is that I don't want to be 50 with a seven year old, for everyone's sake.

motherinferior · 04/05/2006 16:30

Oh and I totally agree that all vaguely 'planned' pregnancies are the result of total selfishness.

bundle · 04/05/2006 16:30

I feel uneasy about it, and think there should be limits - eg would assisted conception be appropriate for someone in their 80s? or someone who was 12???

(also - have emailed FIL to see if he knows her, he lives in same town Wink)

expatinscotland · 04/05/2006 16:31

People want to do a lot of things, not all of which are good for themselves or those around them.

jabberwocky · 04/05/2006 16:32

At last, some voices of tolerance and compassion! Having children is a very personal decision. Going through IVF is no cakewalk and not a decision taken lightly by anyone who does it. It is at least a 58 day process (at least here in the US) with classes, daily injections, etc. I think the media et al should just leave these people alone. It is no one else's business what they decide to do regarding their family. FFS, a lot of you are acting as if she is some kind of criminal.

PinkKerPlink · 04/05/2006 16:32

they have no children together velcrobott

they do have children though

elliott · 04/05/2006 16:33

Sure, MI, I wouldn't want to do it either. But they do.
I agree the main downside is potential loss of parents at a relatively early age. I can't quote the figures off the top of my head, but I think a healthy 63 yr old most likely has a very good chance of living another 20 years.
And I do think double standards operate re older fathers.

velcrobott · 04/05/2006 16:33

MI - I too would not want a baby at 63... can't imagine getting up twice in the night at that age... however I am NOT that age... so who knows how I would feel then.
I did thin that when that child is 21 she'll be 84... and quite possibly never make his wediing (they know it's a boy).

Expat - everyone can express their opinions (not asking you to stop!)... mine is that it's all very judgemental... Smile

bundle · 04/05/2006 16:33

some people might think it's more appropriate to use those resources to help people who didn't have any children at all

velcrobott · 04/05/2006 16:35

Pinker I did say together Smile
Jabber... you're right - she is no criminal.... she said on tele this AM that they had not come to this decision on a whim... and I'm sure it wasn't an easy path!

expatinscotland · 04/05/2006 16:36

K, so if age shouldn't be considered, how about 12-year-olds having kids? Or a 16-year-old, for that matter? I mean, if they really wanted them and all, and it's no one's business when a person decides to reproduce.

velcrobott · 04/05/2006 16:40

12 year olds do have kids !

expatinscotland · 04/05/2006 16:41

Yes, b/c biologically, some of them can.

Just like biologically, we can now manipulate nature to get a post menopausal mum of 3 pregnant w/a donor egg.

Does that mean, great, let's just encourage it.

If you want it, you should have it. Let's send out that message to society.

bundle · 04/05/2006 16:44

but velcrobott, suppose a 12 yr old was having problems conceiving (I know it's a tricky one...but try & imagine they wanted to) - would it be "right" (putting the law to one side for a moment) to help them with eg assisted conception?

Blandmum · 04/05/2006 16:46

Life expectancy for women in the UK is now 81.

My mother is 81, I am 43. For the last 4 years she has been in a psychogeriatric hospial, and hasn't known who I am. Horrific to deal with this at 39....unbelievable to do it at 18.

Yes, she might be hale and hearty at that age, but she is more likely not to be. You can become demented much younger than 81 for sure, but it is far less common.

velcrobott · 04/05/2006 16:47

The Queen is 80....

expatinscotland · 04/05/2006 16:47

yes, she is, w/kids in their 50s and late 40s.

velcrobott · 04/05/2006 16:49

And yes some 12 YO do want it and do get it pregnant!!!! However "sad" we may think that is... teeenage pregnancies are not all accidents you know... and I do see it as I live right next to a council estate where we have a few ! (BTW Not saying you have to live in a council estate to want to have children at 12 LOL!!!)

velcrobott · 04/05/2006 16:49

Yes but she isn't mad IYKWIM Wink