A Ugandan woman, Safina Namukwaya, aged 70, has recently celebrated the birth of twins following a successful IVF treatment, marking her as one of the oldest women to give birth in Africa. The medical procedure took place at Women’s Hospital International and Fertility Centre Uganda.
Namukwaya underwent a caesarean section, delivering a baby girl and a baby boy, underscoring not only the medical achievement but also emphasizing the resilience and strength of the human spirit, as highlighted by the hospital.
In an interview with a Ugandan media outlet, Namukwaya shared that this was her second delivery within three years, having previously given birth to a baby girl named Sarah in 2020. Her journey to motherhood was not without challenges, as she faced complications during her pregnancies, including the absence of support from the father of her children.
Namukwaya revealed that societal attitudes played a role in her struggles, expressing that men were often reluctant to embrace the prospect of having more than one child. She disclosed that even during her hospital admission, the father of her children did not appear.
The 70-year-old mother opened up about her past, mentioning miscarriages and the loss of her husband in the 1990s. Consequently, she experienced stigma within her community for not having children.
Despite facing judgment and criticism, Namukwaya relied on her faith, stating, “Many people judged and abused me for being barren, but I decided to leave everything to the Almighty God who has finally answered my prayers,” shortly after the birth of her first daughter in 2020.
Namukwaya’s story adds to the growing phenomenon of women giving birth at more advanced ages. In 2019, Erramatti Mangayamma of India, at the age of 74, became the world’s oldest mother by giving birth to twins through IVF. Notably, Mangayamma delivered two healthy baby girls with her husband of 57 years by her side.
The previous record-holder for the world’s oldest mother was Bousada de Lara, who admitted to lying about her age and gave birth to twin boys at the age of 66 in December 2006. Advances in fertility treatments, such as IVF, have allowed women to conceive later in life through the use of frozen eggs or donor eggs. While natural conception becomes challenging after menopause, medical interventions continue to offer alternatives for those desiring parenthood.
