GUJARAT: An Indian woman named Jivunben Rabari, 70, and her husband, Valjibhai Rabari, 75, from Kutch in western Gujarat state, are one of the world’s oldest to conceive a child, welcoming a son named Lalo who was delivered by Caesarean section last month.
The couple, who have been married for 45 years, had been trying to conceive a baby for decades unsuccessfully until they had Lalo through In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). They approached Dr Naresh Bhanushali after learning about the procedure through relatives.
“She has a high blood pressure issue, and we had to deliver the child prematurely via C-section in the eighth month. We had a team that included a cardiologist as her age made her health very unpredictable. But she was fine and gave birth to a sound baby,” Dr Bhanushali told the local news.
“I was stunned when she said she wanted to have a child. We kept telling her it was dangerous and even counselled her for three months. Due to menopause, her uterus had grown smaller, so it would have been gruelling, but she vowed on having a child before she passed away. We yielded to her desires and decided to carry out the treatment. Luckily, she conceived at first attempt,” Dr Bhanushali said.
“We were a bit wary, but Jivunben kept us motivated. She is a very positive woman,” said Dr Bhanushali, whose oldest patient before this was a 55-year-old woman. Despite all the risks, the couple was sure about this pregnancy and travelled 150 kilometres for checkups bimonthly. The doctors said they used medication to recuperate her menstrual cycle. Then afterwards, they performed surgery to increase her uterus for artificial insemination.
IVF treatment has become more accessible in the last decade. But many fertility specialists have disapproved of geriatric pregnancies because of the potential risks as well. Not to mention concern over the child itself, what if their parents don’t survive long enough to raise them into adulthood?
“There are no regulations against it, but women beyond 52 years of age should not seek IVF. It is extremely taxing on the woman, both physically and mentally,” said Dr Kamini Patel, a leading IVF specialist who runs Ahmedabad’s Vani IVF Centre.
“I’m sure that the doctors, in this case, were coming from emotional grounds, but it is not safe. The real challenge begins after the procedure where the pregnancy itself risks the heart and other organs because it is an added burden on top of ageing”, she explained.
But Dr Bhanushali disagrees, claiming it as “God’s will”.
“Some doctors have been vocal against my actions and criticised me. But I am glad that I could bring joy into the old couple’s lives as babies are God’s blessings.” he stood his ground.