70 Year old Woman in Uganda Gives Birth to Twins

Once called “Miracle pregnancy” now 70-year-old woman in Kampala, Uganda has given birth to twins via C-section after undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) with donor eggs and her husband’s sperm. The newborns, a girl and a boy, each weighed over 5 pounds and were discharged from the hospital on January 6. USA Today said she was walking the same day she delivered. Safina Namukwaya’s fertility specialist, Dr. Edward Tamale Sali, shared that the mother is “loving” and “playful” with her new babies, adding that she can’t stop staring at them. Namukwaya also has a 3-year-old daughter and said she has a strong support network to help with washing and childcare.

Despite Sali’s assertion that Namukwaya is “physically fit” and it was her “human right” to undergo IVF, there are concerns about the potential risks associated with a woman of her advanced age giving birth. Dr. Brian Levine, a director at a fertility clinic in New York City, called the decision to impregnate a 70-year-old woman “irresponsible,” citing elevated risk of hypertension, gestational diabetes, and preterm labor. Additionally, if Namukwaya were to suffer a health emergency, there are questions about who would care for her children.

While Namukwaya’s case is an anomaly, it raises important questions about the ethics and safety of fertility treatments for women of advanced age. In the United States, the upper age limit for IVF is generally mid-50s, but other countries do not have such restrictions. The case also highlights the importance of having a strong support network for mothers and families raising young children, especially in cases where parents may be older or have health concerns. Despite the potential risks and controversy, Namukwaya seems overjoyed with her newborns, calling them a “miracle” and a testament to God’s power