Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Britain's oldest mother, aged 66, gives birth to a 5lb 3oz boy

A woman of 66 has given birth to a baby boy  -  making her Britain's oldest new mother. 

Elizabeth Adeney and her newborn son, who weighed 5lb 3oz, are said to be doing 'extremely well'  in hospital.

The child, who was conceived through IVF, was delivered by caesarean section on Tuesday afternoon. 

Doctors are understood to have brought the procedure forward because Mrs Adeney, who carried her son almost to full term, had developed a complication. 

Mrs Adeney becomes the UK's oldest mother by four years, overtaking Patti Farrant who had a son, Jude, at the age of 62 three years ago. 

A friend of the divorcee said: 'Lizzie is absolutely thrilled. This is something she thought might never happen. She can't wait to get home and start her new life with her boy.' 


As revealed in the Daily Mail earlier this month, Mrs Adeney travelled to Ukraine for the IVF treatment as clinics here refuse to treat women over 50. 

The case has reignited the debate over post-menopausal motherhood which has been made possible by modern scientific techniques. 

Mrs Adeney first had fertility treatment two decades ago during her short-lived marriage to Robert Adeney, now 71, but was told by medical experts at the time that she could no longer continue with attempts to fall pregnant. 

A source close to Mr Adeney said the marriage foundered as Mrs Adeney became consumed with the desire to have children.