[Ammi]

A single woman of 66 has given birth to twins after undergoing IVF with donor eggs.

The unnamed Swiss woman, a retired pastor, had the treatment in the Ukraine and delivered her sons, Joshua and Michael, by Caesarean section two weeks ago. She and her babies are still in hospital under observation in Chur.

The mother - who will be 84 when her boys turn 18 - is quoted in the newspaper SonntagsBlick as saying: "It's incredible what medicine can do nowadays. I want to enjoy this event now in peace."

The fact the woman was able to have IVF treatment has caused outrage among some campaigners. One writer in Swiss newspaper Le Matin accused her of "selfishness" and "irresponsibility" and claimed the boys would their spend teens ensuring their mother had a place in an old people's home.

Josephine Quintavalle from Comment on Reproductive Ethics told The Sun that we 'had to learn to say no to these women'. She claimed that a 66 year old having a baby 'distorts nature' and that we have created a sense that 'everybody has a right to have a child, no matter what age.'


"No one should consider IVF after they have passed the natural menopause," Josephine added.

The mother, who lives in Gruesch, Switzerland, where it is ILLEGAL to have a donor egg implanted, also faced condemnation from one of her neighbours who branded her 'selfish', telling reporters: "It's pure selfishness and not good for the children."

Lorenz Casutt-Peng, the woman's local deputy mayor, however was supportive, saying: "Children are our future and it's a good thing that the children and their mother are doing well."

[Ninastar]

disgusting

[Tom4784]

It is quite selfish really since the kids will probably end up having to care for their mother when they are still young. I just hope that the mother has a good family to support her and her sons in case the worst happens when the children are still young.

[Marc]

Selfish comes to mind, but who are we to pass judgement, over half of us have never had a child.

She'll probably die before her kids hit 10 years old. Which is sad.

[Ninastar]

Originally Posted by Marc

Selfish comes to mind, but who are we to pass judgement, over half of us have never had a child.

She'll probably die before her kids hit 10 years old. Which is sad.

you don't have to have a kid to know that it's selfish

she'd be an unfit mother at that age. I don't think it's right to have kids if you aren't able to do the best for them

[MTVN]

It's not all that rare for kids to be brought up my grandparents, and it's not all that rare for people to be able to live independently until well into their 90's, if she's a good Mum and she's healthy I don't think it's that disgusting

[Z]

She's in her sixties, she's not knocking on death's door if she just managed to give birth through IVF for goodness' sake. I'm not sure where I stand on the issue, but I think it's important to point out that plenty of unfit mothers pass their newborn children onto their parents, the grandparents of this child, who are in many cases a similar age, perhaps older than this woman. Plenty of people have been raised by their grandparents - and plenty of people are healthy their whole lives, not everyone becomes frail in their old age. We don't know enough about this woman's health to be able to judge properly, IMO. I do think it's irresponsible at that age when you consider all the potential problems, but we shouldn't jump to conclusions.

[Z]

Originally Posted by MTVN

It's not all that rare for kids to be brought up my grandparents, and it's not all that rare for people to be able to live independently until well into their 90's, if she's a good Mum and she's healthy I don't think it's that disgusting

You managed to make the same points I did in about half as many words, and more effectively. I think I'm in love with you MTVN

[GypsyGoth]

I think that's too old and kinda gross.

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Zee

You managed to make the same points I did in about half as many words, and more effectively. I think I'm in love with you MTVN

The feeling is mutual

[Vicky.]

Oh great. Chances are the kids will end up with no parent at 14 or something. Maybe even in the next few years.

What on earth posesses a woman of that age to do that

I dont mean to sound all judgemental...even though I know I do sound that way, but this is just plain wrong :/

The rumours are that Wayne Rooney offered to impregnate her the "normal" way, if she'd just hold off till she was a bit older.


True story.

[Z]

Originally Posted by MTVN

The feeling is mutual

-starts booking wedding planners-

[Me. I Am Salman]

She's giving life
Hardly selfish

[Marc]

Can't imagine she needed to push much during the birth

[Marc]

DAMN! Caesarean section LOL

[Kizzy]

Its her life and her body, im guessing she maintains herself better than most so theres no reason for her not to live a long healthy life. the only worry i have is after menopause its natures way of saying 'thats it' it is playing god...so im split

Originally Posted by Marc

Can't imagine she needed to push much during the birth

Be like a water slide. Also on the plus side, women generally **** themselves whilst giving birth, this woman will be completely prepared for that.

Originally Posted by kizzy

Its her life and her body, im guessing she maintains herself better than most so theres no reason for her not to live a long healthy life. the only worry i have is after menopause its natures way of saying 'thats it' it is playing god...so im split

So will she be in 9 months.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Jesus.H.Christ

So will she be in 9 months.

She wont be split, she'll be dead.

[Kizzy]

my sides remain unsplit....*gunter*

[Ammi]

I'm not really sure how I feel about this..there are parents who completely mess it up, young parents, who will have many years to screw up their kids lives successfully and perhaps this woman can only give her children a fraction of those years..but those years may be an amazing foundation for their lives.
I don't know anything about her and I trust there was good reason why she was given IVF, based on her lifestyle, character, health etc...and she is a single parent so I don't know what other family suport there is.
..the impact on her chilren's lives when she dies will be huge, yes, and there is a good chance they will be at a 'vulnerable' age when that happens..but it happens with young parents too

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Ninastar

you don't have to have a kid to know that it's selfish

she'd be an unfit mother at that age. I don't think it's right to have kids if you aren't able to do the best for them

This. It's incredibly selfish to bring children into the world like that.

On the plus side, she can let the kid sit on the floor whilst she stands up, and still breast feed.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Jesus.H.Christ

On the plus side, she can let the kid sit on the floor whilst she stands up, and still breast feed.

Ew