Giving birth to twins at 73, Indian woman creates medical history
Guntur, Sept 8 (IBNS): An Andhra Pradesh woman has created a medical history by giving birth to twin girls at age 73, becoming the oldest mom of the world and triggering a debate on her choice of motherhood in the twilight of life.
The woman- Erramatti Mangayamma- gave birth to the girls through the process of IVF in Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur district on Thursday.
Erramatti Mangayamma, wife of E Raja Rao, 80 (some reports said he is 82), from Nelaparthipadu village of Draksharamam block in East Godavari district gave birth to her babies after spending 57 childless years since their marriage in 1962, Dr Sanakayyala Umashankar, director of the hospital, who performed the C-section told ScoopWhoop.
Foreign media, including The Washington Post, carried the news as one of the lead stories from India.
At her age, this is a rare case, but Dr. Umashankar told the news portal that Mangayamma had no problems in conceiving and delivering the babies even at her age because she had no medical complications like diabetes and hypertension.
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However, the doctor said that the only problem is that she will not be able to breast-feed her babies.
"She cannot breast-feed the babies. But no worries. We can feed the babies with milk obtained from the milk bank," the doctor told the news portal.
Sitarama Rajarao, the husband of the 73-year-old mother, said they always wanted to have children but failed to conceive it until now.
"We are incredibly happy," 82-year-old Sitarama Rajarao told BBC Telugu on Thursday, hours after the babies were born.
"Nothing is in our hands. Whatever should happen will happen. It is all in the hands of God," Rajarao told BBC when asked who would care for the children in case anything were to happen to the couple due to their advanced age.
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The mother also highlighted that they were stigmatized in their village in southern India.
"They would call me a childless lady," Yaramati told BBC.
Meanwhile, some netizens expressed their displeasure over the incident.
One Chidi Odinkalu tweeted: "A new child is always reason for celebration. Andra Pradesh in India has just produced the world's oldest Mum, Erramatti Mangayamma, 74. That's awesome. Yet it also presents profound problems for reproductive ethics & health. The issues aren't easy."
A new child is always reason for celebration. Andra Pradesh in India has just produced the world's oldest Mum, Erramatti Mangayamma, 74. That's awesome. Yet it also presents profound problems for reproductive ethics & health. The issues aren't easy.https://t.co/HhpPdjZGmb
— Chidi Odinkalu (@ChidiOdinkalu) September 7, 2019
Another Richard said: "This is so wrong, far too old to give birth 74 year old Erramatti Mangayamma from india gives birth to twins."
This is so wrong, far too old to give birth 74 year old Erramatti Mangayamma from india gives birth to twins. https://t.co/Fh0OihI4nw
— Richard Edwards ☕🇦🇺💰 (@richardmelb05) September 6, 2019
Image: Youtube Grab
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