Khaberni - In a notable humanitarian story that generated widespread interaction, a 59-year-old Chinese woman realized her dream of giving birth again, after years of feeling loneliness, and with the help of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) technology, she gave birth to a male child, setting a record as the oldest pregnant woman in her city.
According to the "South China" newspaper, the baby was born on January 9th of this current month via cesarean section at Changjiagang People's Hospital Number 1 in Jiangsu province, eastern China, with a weight of about 2.2 kilograms, after a pregnancy journey described as medically complicated.
A humanitarian motive
The mother, known by the nickname "Zuo", stated that her decision was driven purely by humanitarian motives, explaining that her daughter lives abroad, which made her and her husband feel increasingly lonely, adding: "Seeing my child and hearing his cry was an extremely touching moment.. I did not expect this dream to come true."
Zuo mentioned that the idea of having another child had occurred to her two years ago, after which she began preparing her health condition carefully in preparation for pregnancy, before the artificial insemination was successful last year.
A precise plan to overcome the "danger" of age
Given her advanced age, the medical team devised a meticulous plan to manage her health condition throughout the pregnancy. Gu Huibing, the chief obstetrician at the hospital, stated that pregnancy at this age is classified under high-risk cases, due to the potential for health complications and fetal deformities.
During the pregnancy, Zuo faced multiple health challenges, including high and fluctuating blood pressure, disturbances in kidney functions and albumin levels, and elevated uric acid, alongside noticeable swelling in the legs, which prompted the doctors to decide on a cesarean delivery at 33 weeks and 5 days of pregnancy.
The doctor described the mother as "courageous", affirming that undergoing such an experience at this age requires exceptional willpower.
Much division
The story quickly became a topic of public debate on social media platforms in China, where opinions were divided between those who saw the step as a harsh adventure that might affect the child, and others who saw it as a model for an unconventional solution to the crisis of declining birth rates and aging society.
An internet user said: "I don’t think it is necessary to do this, you will find out that she does not have enough energy to take care of the child, and it will be harsh on the child."
While another person said: "Our country can rely on these retirees to have children, instead of pressuring the young generation, they have the time and the pension, what an ideal solution!"
This debate comes at a time when stories of childbirth at an advanced age are increasing within China, amid new government policies to support childbirth, including an announcement by the health authority in Beijing that retired women can reclaim the costs of prenatal tests through the public health insurance system, in a step aimed at encouraging childbirth and addressing the rapidly changing demographic changes.
