General Chat

I think this is totally wrong when the mother has already had children. I would think different if the woman was childless. Your opinions please...........<no arguing either lol ! >

Woman to be oldest mother at 63 A woman is set to become Britain's oldest mother at the age of 63 after treatment by a controversial Italian fertility doctor. Child psychiatrist Patricia Rashbrook, of East Sussex, flew to Rome last October for IVF by Severino Antinori, according to the Sun newspaper. She is now reported to be seven months' pregnant with her third child. In a joint statement with her husband, John Farrant, she said the decision had not been taken lightly. The statement read: 'A great deal of thought has been given to planning and providing for the child's present and future well-being, medically, socially and materially. 'We are very happy to have given life to an already much-loved baby, and our wish now is to give him the peace and security he needs.' The couple said they were pleased with the pregnancy 'notwithstanding its unusual and potentially controversial aspects'. Refusing to go into details of the treatment received, the future parents insisted the child's welfare was their top priority and asked for their privacy to be respected. ' It's pretty clear that she would have needed donor eggs because of her age Dr Allan Pacey Secretary of the British Fertility Society ' Dr Rashbrook, whose married name is Mrs Farrant, is reported to have conceived after treatment at Dr Antinori's clinic in Rome, where he specialises in treating older women. He first made headlines in 1994 by helping a post-menopausal 63-year-old woman become pregnant with donor eggs and hormones. And he has said he wanted to be the first doctor to produce a cloned human baby.

Personally I think,To have a baby at that age is rather selfish,I mean who can say she will still be alive when the 'baby' is 20? If she had no children I could understand,as that longing for a child never goes away. As someone who is still waiting for the day when I can hold my own child in my arms,She should be grateful for the children she already has. BB xx

Ar nearly that age, this would be my worst nightmare. Lets hope the government decide she can'r claim for child benefit and her state pension at the same time!!

Sorry but i think its awfull, i had two kids would have loved more but thats it so unfair on the child so unfair for childless couples who cant afford to have treatment who crave for just one

I think it,s totally selfish self indulgence,with no thought for the well being and future of the child,it,s alright saying it will be Financially secure,but what about it,s right to have a loving,caring upbringing with parents young enough to do it. Hal

She already has 2 grown up children, so it's not as though she has never given birth. I've hit my 50's now, personally I would rather slit my throat than go through all that again! Maybe she doesn't want to admit she's getting on in years and she is past childbearing.she needs to see a psychiatrist

In my view women shouldn't be having babies at such an advanced age, it's completely against nature and very selfish.

i agree Elaine,Its a very selfish act on her part, She will probably die before the childs even a teenager,thats selfish!

As said before, I would feel differently if the woman was childless and this was her last hope. But then again I feel there should be an upper age limit of 60 But I think, there should be a cut off point of 50 if the person already has children. Elaine x

I think its disgusting! The poor child. Christine x

Wrong!! Wrong!! Wrong!! :O(

Dreadful! the chances of the child being left an orphan by early teens is great therefore its totally selfish of the parents.How will the child cope with his peers theres sure to be some teasing. Norah

Totally wrong......... As one who was born to a 40-year old mother who died before I was eight, I am 100% opposed to this sort of thing. My father was 46 when I was born...........he died just after my 15th Birthday. I was an only child, and the conception was completely natural.......so there are no recriminations..........only regrets that my parents weren't around for me as I grew up. But how will this poor child feel if he/she is left an orphan at a young age? Reg

Don't agree at all. It is not fair on the poor child. Lindy ;-))

There's something unethical about this from the doctor's point of view too, given that he is the enabling force in several controversial pregnancies and has the goal of producing the first human clone, another 'iffy' project. It seems to me as if fame in his career is more important to him that the well-being of his patients and it appalls me that he is able to carry on working. I agree with the comments regarding the parent's motivations but I think it's important to remember that there's a whole group of people that allow this to happen, it isn't just one person's decision.

nudging for somone who wants to read this, BB xx

I think it's wrong and incredibly selfish, regardless of whether she has children or not. Not all of us are meant to parents, hard as some people find it and I think it's very sad that cash can overcome ethics in these circumstances.

Have to agree.I would just about see her point if she had no children and was younger. but she has had children already and personally I think it's a waste of medical resourses and money which could give a couple who can't have children a chance. My parents were 41 when I was born and although my mum died at a young 65 I can't imagine them being 63 when I was born. I am 45 now and to be honest the thought of anyone having a baby even at my age scares me. I think if I was her age I would be enjoying my older children/grandchildren. I think the doctors who are going along with this need to think again.

How awful that fertility treatment was given to someone of this age who already has children - how can it be justified? how will the child feel been collected from school when other parents are so much younger?, will they be able to keep pace with the activities that the child will want to do?, will they be able to see the childs point of view as he/she reaches the teenage years? Don't agree with it, but only for the above reasons and not beacuse the child may be an orphan at a young age as that could happen to any child born to parents of any age. Joanne