Hot on HuffPost Parents:
What Kind Of Dad Are You? Making Time For Fatherhood
GOP Is Looking To Deny Child Tax Break For Undocumented Immigrants
59-year-old French woman gives birth to triplets
Filed under: Newborns, Toddlers Preschoolers, Your Pregnancy, Health & Safety: Babies, Development/Milestones: Babies, Life & Style, In The News, Mommy Wars, Day Care & Education, Feeding & Sleeping, Resources, Twins, Triplets, Multiples, Baby-sitting, Research Reveals: Babies, Nutrition: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Expert Advice: Babies, Health & Safety: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Development: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Behavior: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Activities: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Gear Guides: Babies, Gear Guides: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Research Reveals: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Expert Advice: Toddlers & Preschoolers
A fifty-nine-year-old French woman has given birth to triplets after seeking fertility treatment. The new mom, unnamed at press time, sought fertility treatment in Vietnam after she was denied assistance in her home country.
In France, it is illegal for medical practitioners to provide fertility treatment when to women who are considered past the age of being able to procreate naturally. As a result, the pregnancy, once it became known, drew harsh criticism. from many in the French community. In other parts of the world, however, women are having children at ages much higher than fifty nine.
The woman gave birth to two sons and a daughter via C-section last Saturday. Mom, boys and girl are reportedly in good condition. In the United States women are free to seek fertility treatment whenever they want, as far as I understand. It certainly isn't illegal to provide such treatment, although some would say it is unethical.
| Yes - fertility treatments are for young women. | |
|---|---|
| Maybe - it would depend on the individual case. | |
| No - motherhood is every woman's right. |
YourVoice
Ask Us Anything About Parenting
TheTalkies:RelatedVideos
-
How to Deliver a Great Birth Video
DadLabs Ep. 320 Gear Daddy - Tips and tricks for creating a memorable (and watchable) birth video from DadLabs' own shooting and editing guru, Daddy Troy. Create a simple three-act structure, from pregnancy to delivery to baby, in snuggly little five-minute bundle. Your friends and family will appreciate it, and you'll enjoy it for year to come. Brought to you by Boon. Distributed by Tubemogul.
-
The Benefits of Teaching Your Toddler to Sign
Experts say a couple of simple hand signs a few months after birth could put your child one full year ahead of his classmates.
-
What to Expect from the 1 Month to 1 Year Old Physical Exam
Join a discussion about growth and development by Dr. Hands, who presents all that any parent would like to know about any health concern during the first few years of child's life. This video shows what happens in a physical exam for a 1 month to 1 year
-
The Benefits of Playgroups
Stay at home mom, Jasmine Gibb, is always looking for new ways to make the days enjoyable for both her and her two sons, 2 year-old Sebastian and 6 month-old Gabriele. So it didn't take her long to discover the benefits of playgroups. She started with org
SitesWeLove
- Site Map
- |
- Staff
- |
- Terms of Service
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Trademarks
- |
- Advertise With Us
- |
- About Our Ads
- |
- AOL Downloads
- |
- Contact Us
- |
© Copyright 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aol Family
ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
9-09-2008 @ 4:21PM
c_rousseau05 said...I think as long as these older women realize that they have a MUCH higher risk of having babies with problems and they fully understand this and can afford it if there are problems, then it's fine.
Reply
9-09-2008 @ 5:08PM
ame s said...I'm not sure a law is necessary but I question the common sense of a woman over 50 who thinks it is a good idea to have a baby. Sure, some people live to be 70-80+ but I wouldn't risk it. I'm now 40 with an 8 and 10 year old. I hope I am healthy physically and mentally (and alive) when they have children of their own. I would love to be available for my grandchildren like my parents are for my girls.
Reply
9-09-2008 @ 6:36PM
Andrea said...This seems like a double standard to me. It is socially acceptable for dad's to become parents later in life, but not for mom's. Health issues (schizophrenia) have been linked to babies fathered by older dads, but no one is concerned about that. Older fathers are even more likely to not be around to finish raising their children as men have a shorter life expectancy than women.
Reply
9-09-2008 @ 7:37PM
Jen said...I personally think it is selfish. She more than likely won't get to see her children grow up and know them or her grandchildren when that time comes. I just don't understand why she would want to do that to her children.
Reply
9-10-2008 @ 2:57PM
Empress said...Well I guess you are ready to put your granny away too. You have just written her off. You don't know how long this woman is going to live. She is 59. That may seem a stretch for you youngsters. You don't know her. You don't know her physical condition, her character or anything. Being 59 is not "OLD" it's just a number. I am a couple of years older and I still every now and then have the thought process of when I get older I am going to do this or that. Then reality checks in, oh I am already grown. When you get to those numbers in age, you will see a totally different side. Was Sarah not in her 90's when she became pregnant by Abraham? If I could say something to you face to face it would be go to your room, act like a child, get treated like one.
9-09-2008 @ 10:39PM
Paul Cyopick said...There's no double standard. Man can produce sperm pretty much forever (although the quality as one ages is now being questioned), but women cannot naturally have children after a certain age.
Can you imagine running around after triplets at age 60? I'm a 42 year old widowed dad of three kids, and I know how tired I am at the end of the day.
I know the value of reproduction technology for infertile women, but this stretches the boundaries of ethical medicine.
Reply
9-10-2008 @ 8:42AM
Sabrina said...She will be 77 when they're 18. How is she going to enjoy them? And futhermore, how are they going to enjoy her? They're going to graduate high school JUST in time to spend the next 5-10 years caring for her. Forget college, a career, their own families. I'm 24 years old, and my grandmother is in her late 60s. She's able to get around and enjoy her GREAT grandkids still. But in another 10 years that will no longer be the case. Any life is wonderful and should be celebrated, but I can't understand why a person would wait until they're nearly 60 to have children. Surely she wasn't denied by her government for 30 years before trying to go somewhere else for fertility treatments. No, I don't believe women past childbearing age should be "barred" from fertility treatments, but there should be a process you need to go through. Questions like "Why now?" and finding out about their health, family medical and longevity histories, finding out if they'll have help when they're 70 with three 10 year olds, you know?
Reply
9-10-2008 @ 2:53PM
Empress said...Who are you to say what your grandmother or anybody's grandmother is going to be doing in 10 years or when she's 70-ish...I am a young great grandmom in my 60's and I was recently mistaken for my grandson's wife!!!!!! I am vibrant, active, good health,and love my grands and great grands...age is a number...having a baby whenever is in God's hands. I wish the family good health and bon fortune! You need to get over yourself...I guess because you're 24, 60 is a long way...I promise when you reach that age, your thought process will be totally different. I pray for you and your family and especially your grandmother, you're ready to put her away!
9-10-2008 @ 3:14PM
tricia said...empress, you're absolutely right- with only one thing you have said. that it's in God's hands when people have kids... if she is 59 and has a kid, wonderful. But that's not what happened.. she is 59 and had to leave her own country so that she could get someone to insert babies into her so she could have THREE kids. if you ask me, and many others it's incredibly selfish. And most certainly not being left in God's hands.
9-10-2008 @ 3:51PM
Mildred said...Empress, you say having a child whenever is in God's hands, but she didn't leave it in God's hands. Medical science made that child possible. I am not against fertility treatments, but when a woman has entered into her later, infertile stage of life, you can't say that she left this in God's hands.
9-10-2008 @ 9:58AM
ninainindia said...I think it's selfish, these children will lose their mother at a young age.
Reply
9-10-2008 @ 2:55PM
Tanya Siekman said...... and if you were killed in a car wreck today, develop cancer, have a stroke, etc... would your children be without a parent at such a young age?
Just some food for thought!
9-10-2008 @ 8:58PM
ninainindia said...People always say that as a counter argument but I believe that is something completely different.
This woman made the choice to leave her children motherless at a young age (I also consider 20's/30's as a young age). If you die in a car wreck or from an unexpected illness it isn't a choice.
9-10-2008 @ 2:20PM
helen said...All comments talk about the women, motherhood etc. What about the infants, children, teens etc. Does anyone think about the child who is apt to grow up motherless or the teen who needs a mother's advice. Any woman who has a baby for herself is the epitome of selfishness and I pity the children.
Reply
10-14-2008 @ 7:12PM
jojo said...I am 50 years old and had my son @ 23, I can't imagine caring for one baby no less 3 at my age at all! I also take full care of my 73 year old Mom who has end stage empysema which totaly wears me out as I am starting menopause & have my own slight health issues. I think it is the msot selfish thing a anyone can do to not only have a 12 year old caring for you as you get old & sickly but will she even be here at all?? Who knows one way or another but why would you take that chance. Todays trend of having kids in the 40' & 50's is absurd to say the least...there is a good reason we can't have kids at midage as woman, that is why we go into menopause as sucky as it is...stop the maddness ladies & gentleman please!
9-10-2008 @ 3:17PM
mzshante said...I think it's absolutely selfish her children will be forced to take care of her while they're barely 18. if she got pregnant at 59 that means she had them at sixty. she may have a good twenty years left before having them so at 20 they're either going to have to take care of her or even worse deal with the loss of her that is unfair.
Reply
9-10-2008 @ 3:24PM
Tanya Siekman said...I had triplets at age 48 after having 4 children 20 years prior. I also happen to have 3 grandchildren.
I too will be chasing kids when I'm 59 in 7 short years. ... and trust me, I'm up to it, and no one has the right to judge me or make negative comments unless they're in my shoes.
Any one of us can die suddenly in accidents or due to illness and leave our children at a young age, which happens every day.
I'm healthy, a good Mother to my kids and hopefully will live a full life, but mainly, however old I live to be ... they will know they were loved.
Kudo's to the woman!
Reply
9-21-2008 @ 1:31PM
Kam Wilson said...Wow, I never imagined a 59 year old even wanting to be a fresh-new mom! I guess we're all so very different. That's what makes this world so very interesting and a joy to live in. If we all made the same choices, just think how horribly boring things would be :)
And hey, maybe chasing little kids later on in life is the ticket to living longer and healthier! We're all told to get more exercise, so I can guarantee this mom'll be doing that!
Kama from over at http://www.raisinglakota.com
Reply
10-14-2008 @ 7:13PM
JoJo said...Tanya, You really don't know how you will feel in 7 short years from now, My Mom get very sick suddenly and now I care 4 her 24/7, my adult son helps out when he is off work and I can't imagine having little ones & caring for a sick, elderly parent as these kids will probaly have to do someday at a much younger age them I am now*
In any event God Bless you, hope you stay healthy for a long, long time*
JoJo
Reply