Posted on 10/11/2006 2:19:05 PM PDT by COUNTrecount
Turkish woman gives birth at the age of 64
A 64-year-old Turkish woman has given birth to a baby boy in Istanbul, becoming the second oldest mother in the world, a hospital spokesman said. After 35 years of trying, Memnune Tiryaki became pregnant through in vitro fertilization -- by egg transfer from a donor -- in the breakaway Turkish sector of Cyprus and delivered her baby by Cesarean section on Monday in the private German Hospital here.
"It's a great success... She is the second oldest woman in the world to have given birth," hospital spokesman Bulent Biricik told AFP, adding that a Romanian had given birth at the age of 67 in 2005.
"Both the mother and the boy are fine," he said, adding that they were expected to be discharged from hospital later Wednesday.
The baby was 48 centimeters (19 inches) tall and weighed 2.7 kilograms (5.9 pounds).
"No one should discuss my age and make calculations of how long I will live," Tiryaki told the popular Sabah newspaper. "I just wanted to have a child and no one else can know how happy I am."
The 62-year-old father was equally joyous.
"Science made it possible and God helped us," Omer Tiryaki said. "The only thing I care from now on is the happiness of my child."
"We always believed we would succeed," he told the mass-selling Hurriyet newspaper. "Since we are both retired, we will raise the baby together."
The Turkish Cypriot doctor who performed the in vitro fertilization said he made the decision after much hesitation over Tiryaki's age.
"I was doubtful but they convinced me," Halil Ibrahim Tekin told Sabah. "They wanted this baby so much. They were ready to do anything."
He explained that only 25 percent of women aged over 40 stand the chance of becoming pregnant through in vitro fertilization, but "even the uterus of a 90-year-old woman" is medically fit for the operation.
I'm not laughing....I am not laughing.....snicker!
The baby is adorable.
I'm retired from the baby biz. My babies are having babies.
I like being a grandma, but I don't do #2 diapers.
My Dad was 45 and my mother was 40 when I was born. Frankly, it was awesome. My parents were products of the Depression and WWII and they were loaded with common sense, stability (financially and otherwise) and a lot of horse sense from life experience.
The only down side that I would caution every "older" parent, is that you have to raise your children to be incredibly strong, independent, financially responsible and able to handle what will be the inevitable -- your demise.
Give your kids confidence and independence and a strong sense of right/wrong and a healthy dose of ambition and they will be just fine. Wouldn't have traded my experience for anything.
Now, as I am staring 40 in the eye, I am expecting my third child and I know for a fact that I am a better parent now than I would have been in my early 20s.
Was your baby born a toddler?
ummm no
After so long, you'd think she was Memnune to getting pregnant...
Better than the alternative -- your elderly parents being childless -- and just imagine, you will get your inheritance when you graduate from college. (!!?!)
I wonder how many fertilized eggs had been "selectively culled" so that this woman can be a mom for what...four or five years? I bet at least three siblings were put to death so she could have a baby.
Yup. Sure is an inspiring story.
I had my last child at 41, she will be 7 yrs old tomorrow. I know I am a better parent then I was with my other daughter and my sons. Having 20 yrs between my oldest and youngest has taught me quite a bit. We have so much fun together and I have much more time to spend with her. It is great to see things again thru a child's eyes.
...just kidding...I'm sorry
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