66 YO Woman Gives Birth

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in geriatrics.

Now folks, I am a firm believer in having babies, but I think that if you are old enough to retire, you might want to think about NOT starting a family. Why would you bring a child into the world that you most likely will not see graduate high school? Has life expectancy increased that much in the last few years? This woman was pregnant with twins via in vitro fertilization. Sadly, one was still born after her C-SECTION!!! I just think this is wrong, not because I think older people should not have babies, but more along the lines of being able to do the physically demanding job of parenting. I may be wrong, but I just figured menopause had a purpose?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Wound Care.

Is Labor and Delivery covered under Medicare??? :chuckle

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Why? My question is Why? There is a very high possibility this mother wont see her child grow to puberty........

Just because you can doesnt mean you should.........

By saying an old person shouldnt have babies....Well thats taking away from their rights.....but once again, just because you can doesnt mean that you should...

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Many things are difficult to understand. I know from what I have read that she had the c/s after the twin was discovered to have died, and that one weighed nearly 1/3 less than the surviving twin. She stated after the birth that it gave her a new lease on life. Okay, but, of whom is she thinking here? Certainly not the baby. I recall the doctor justified it somehow, but now that I try to recall what he said and can't, it must not have been profound. Maybe he did it for the notoriety. I just do not understand.

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This is one of those sad instances where science cooperates 'because it can' and to hell with ethics, social questions, and related ramifications. :(

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JUst to play devils advocate a little

Who's to say this woman won't live to be a highly active octogenarian who may well live into her late ninties and early hundreds?

We're health care professionals who's DUTY it is to preserve life and encourage healthy living.

So why are we killing this woman off so flippantly?

Where's your optimism guys?

A new member of the human race just said hello.

Let's just say hello back and welcome!

It's not our place to judge. simply to treat illness and enhance life

Isn't it?

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JUst to play devils advocate a little

Who's to say this woman won't live to be a highly active octogenarian who may well live into her late ninties and early hundreds?

We're health care professionals who's DUTY it is to preserve life and encourage healthy living.

So why are we killing this woman off so flippantly?

Where's your optimism guys?

A new member of the human race just said hello.

Let's just say hello back and welcome!

It's not our place to judge. simply to treat illness and enhance life

Isn't it?

As a 66 year old who is very active and healthy I can tell you that when my daughter comes for my 16 month old grandaughter after a day of babysitting I am more than ready to say "bye-bye". I am exhausted! I am VERY happy that I had all my children before I was thirty and had the enthusiasm and energy to indulge them as a child deserves to be indulged. My creaky bones and need for a full nights sleep would certainly detract from all the things I could do with my kids in my younger days.

I think Mother Nature had a plan for us and we shouldn't be messing with it. There's a reason for menopause!! I'm not judging this woman--I just can't in my wildest dreams imagine havinig a baby at my age.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

I believe God knew exactly what he was doing when he created menopause. I won't say this woman doesn't have the right to have a child but I think she should of thought more about her child's future. The child has no brothers, sisters, grandparents, etc......Who's going to take care of her?

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Specializes in ER.

As a very healthy 51 year old with 2 grown children, all I can say is if I found out I was pregnant (it is still possible, have not been thru menapause yet), my first reaction would be ...................................................................................................

I'M GOING TO BLOW MY BRAINS OUT!!!!!!

I know I wouldn't but it would certainly cramp my style! I love my grandchildren, but have done my duty to society by raising my kids, leave it to the young folks!:rotfl:

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That woman is probably rich. She's obviously very self absorbed, so what else is new? This child won't be any worse off than a lot of kids in the world.

I'm personally against this type of intervention. There are starving people in the world, for goodness sake. But, this woman probably has lots of back up help lined up, I would imagine.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

I dont get it,, just dont get it!

I think the dr. should have directed her in a more conventional method of parenting at her age, instead of invitro. Try adopting.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, LTC.

just throwing it out there, but what if this woman develops Alzheimers in a year or two? She forgets to feed the child or some other devastating thing? she is 66 after all. Where is she may have many years ahead of her, what kind of life can she provide this child? She isn't going to be able to run and do things with this child like the younger counter parts would, when this child is 4 and beginning school she will be 70, is she going to go on field trips? What about thinking about the child...the stigma of having to explain to the other children " no this isn't my grandmother, she's my mom".

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