70 year old has baby after ICSI treatment

[georgimama]

what do we think about this then? I'm thinking not to be encouraged (and I know this would not be allowed in the UK), although I have immense sympathy and it probably is true that they have a huge estended family to help out...

It is very very wrong.

Definitely wrong. Not sure I can put into words quite why, because I feel sympathy for the parents at being childless, and I'm sure the child will be loved and cared for. But still just plain wrong.

wow - I just wouldn't have the energy...

It does seem to have brought them much happiness.

Still wrong though.

I feel very sorry for the baby. Realistically he will never know his parents as an adult. I think they have been very selfish and only considered their own needs.

You know, there are lots of people who shouldn't have children - proven child abusers, hopeless drug addicts. People like Karen Matthews.
I can't get upset about an old lady and her old husband having a baby after 55 years of infertility (obviously not her biological child, but I assume it's his if they had to use ICSI). I'm sure this baby will be very much loved and cared for.

i think it was a very selfish decision.

doesn't mean the child will not come to any harm and nor does it mean that s/he will be anything but loved dearly.

How ironic. I read in yesterday's observer that around 10 million female foetuses have been aborted in India in the last few years.

Totally selfish.

I tend to agree with pania. You only have to travel by bus to witness daily the number of people who shouldn't have kids but do.

I always think that these IVF babies born to older mums will be loved, cherished and very well provided for.

Also, on a purely financial note, they will inherit at an age when they will be buying their first house etc, ie potentially when they need it the most.

I completely agree that it was a selfish decision BUT isn't having children a selfish decision full stop?

I had DS because I wanted to. Yes, I thought I would be a good mother and had something to offer a child, but I only had my own opinion for that, and I could just as easily die in the first 5/10/20 years of his life as that couple.

True, but it still comes down to the argument of selfishness, and I do think that having children is primarily a selfish act - biologically it's about perpetuating your genes and on an emotional level it's about what you want.

I do agree that 70 year olds giving birth is not a great idea, I just feel sorry for anyone who has to contend with a lifetime of childlessness I suppose.

And I thought being pregnant at 29 was exhausting! What a tough woman.

I agree with georgiemama.

Good for her. Who are we to say that you are too old to have kids?
Why would anyone begrudge her this chance? it is very unpleasant to do so?
None of us know when our time will be up do we? it could be tomorrow.

I would much rather see this 70 year old, from a supportive loving family, have a child than some vile 20 something slapper who swears openly at her kid in the street and slaps it at any given opportunity.

There is so much focus on the mother. yes mothers are important but it is also the whole family/community that should ideally be involved in a child's upbringing and it seems as if this little baby has all of that( more than the children of many, many children of younger mothers in this country) and hopefully will have a happy and supported childhood.

i struggle with the energy levels now an dmy parents both in there 60's certainly don't have the energy levels they used to. the child will grow up with everyone thinking that she lives with her grandparents. yes it is a whole family thing having kids but only if the family are able to give support

I think it's stupid and wrong. I am glad the law in the UK would prevent this. Ridiculous to say that we are all as likely to die tomorrow as this old woman. Of course we aren't It may be possible but it is very much less likely.

It's ridiculous.

But you never know when you are going to die.

You take a huge risk every time you cross a main road

No you don't. YOu take a very tiny risk indeed, made smaller still by taking a reasonable degree of care.
I don't think you really understand relative risk at all Kitty! I am sure you don't work in insurance. I can PROMISE you that it is a fact that, statistically, a 70 year old has a far, far higher risk of dying in the next five years than, say, a 30 year old.

Seems a bit odd to me that they were facing stigma fr being childless after 55 years, surely they would have being stigmatised before? Also, couldn't they have had treatment before now? Why did they wait til they were 70+? All a bit odd!