Safina Namukwaya, a resilient 70-year-old woman, has successfully given birth to twins following IVF treatment at a fertility center in the capital, Kampala, according to an announcement from the Women’s Hospital International and Fertility Centre (WHI&FC).
Ms. Namukwaya, now one of the oldest women to have given birth, underwent a caesarean section to deliver a baby boy and a baby girl. Expressing her joy, she referred to the event as a “miracle,” highlighting the extraordinary journey she embarked on to become a mother once again.
The WHI&FC, celebrating the momentous occasion, extended congratulations, emphasizing that this achievement transcends mere medical success; it symbolizes the indomitable strength and resilience of the human spirit.
Taking to their Facebook page, the hospital proudly declared, “We’ve achieved the extraordinary – delivering twins to Africa’s oldest mother aged 70!” The post further confirmed the well-being of both mother and babies following the delivery.
Ms. Namukwaya, sharing her experience with Uganda’s Daily Monitor newspaper, disclosed the challenges she faced during her pregnancy, revealing that her partner had abandoned her upon learning about the twins. She lamented societal expectations, noting that “Men don’t like to be told that you are carrying more than one child,” and expressed her gratitude for the support received at the hospital.
This marks Ms. Namukwaya’s second delivery in three years, having given birth to a baby girl in 2020. Her decision to pursue motherhood stemmed from a desire to counter societal judgments regarding her childlessness. “I looked after people’s children and saw them grow up and leave me alone. I wondered who would take care of me when I grow old,” she shared.
The report does not specify whether Ms. Namukwaya used a donor egg or one of her own that was frozen and stored in her earlier years. While women typically undergo menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, advancements in medical technology, such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF), have enabled individuals to extend their reproductive capabilities.
In IVF, an egg is extracted from a woman’s ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory, resulting in an embryo. The embryo is then implanted in the woman’s womb, where it grows and develops, facilitating pregnancies even in later stages of life. Ms. Namukwaya’s inspiring journey stands as a testament to the possibilities afforded by advancements in assisted reproductive technologies.
