Dr. Patricia Rashbrook, 63, from Lewes, East Sussex, England, will become Britain’s oldest mother to give birth. Dr. Rashbrook was treated by Severino Antinori, a controversial fertility doctor, at an undisclosed European country. Dr. Antinori, who has a fertility clinic in Rome, considers 63 to be the age-limit for IVF treatment.
Dr. Rashbrook, a psychiatrist, is seven months pregnant. She already has two grown-up children from a previous marriage. She says she is very happy to be pregnant.
In a statement, Dr. Rashbrook and her husband said “A great deal of thought has been given to planning and providing for the child’s present and future well-being, medically, socially and materially. We are very happy to have given life to an already much-loved baby, and our wish now is to give him the peace and security he needs. We will therefore welcome a return to an undisturbed family life, in order that the well-being of both mother and child may continue to be promoted. We have greatly valued the warm support shown to us by family, friends and colleagues.”
According to Dr. Antinori, older people make better parents. He says he only considers treating people who are likely to have at least 20 years of life left. He says Dr. Rashbrook, after extensive medical tests, was a suitable healthy candidate for treatment.
Dr. Antinori says Dr. Rashbrook and her husband had come to him three years ago about fertility treatment. He says age is not the issue when he assesses a couple for treatment – it is the health of the mother that matters.
A fertilised donor egg was implanted into Dr. Rashbrook’s womb.
UK law does not set any age limit on fertility treatment. The decision on whether or not a person should be treated is left to the doctor(s). Fertility doctors in the UK will not usually consider treating a women who is more than 45 years’ old.
When an older women gets pregnant her risks of developing hypertension, diabetes and problems with the placenta are higher, when compared to a young woman who gets pregnant.
The world record is held by Adriana Iliescu, from Romania – she had a baby girl last year when she was 66.
Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today