Is 62 too old to become a mum?

[chance]

A 62-year-old child psychiatrist has become the oldest woman in Britain to have a baby.
Patricia Rashbrook of Lewes, East Sussex, and her 6lb 10oz boy, nicknamed JJ, were said to be doing well by her husband John Farrant, 60.

Critics said it was selfish to have a baby at their age, but they said they were confident of meeting his needs.

They travelled to the former Soviet Union to get fertility treatment from Italian doctor Severino Antinori.

'Extremely healthy'

Dr Rashbrook already has three grown-up children - aged 26, 22 and 18 - from her first marriage, but her husband has become a father for the first time.

JJ was conceived through IVF using a donor egg and was the result of the couple's fifth and final attempt at the process, which cost £10,000.

What is important in parenting is not how old you are, but whether you are meeting all the child's needs and we are very confident about doing that

Dr Patricia Rashbrook



Dr Peter Bowens Simkins, clinical director of the Cromwell IVF and Fertility Centre, in Swansea, said he and others in his profession considered the birth unacceptable.

"I don't think that it is a responsible decision on her part and I don't think it is in the best interests of the child to have a mother who, when he or she is taking say GCSEs, the mother is going to be in her late 70s," he said.


"As long as people have the freedom and movement there's nothing one can do to stop that, but in this country I think it's highly unlikely that we'll see it happening for many years."

But Dr Rashbrook told the Daily Mail she felt "it was the right thing to do" and she did not feel too old to have a baby.

She said: "We would not have gone ahead if we'd felt we would not be good enough parents.

"We are both extremely healthy and I have always looked and felt very young, but nevertheless we have younger friends with children who have agreed to act as surrogate parents should anything happen to us.

"What is important in parenting is not how old you are, but whether you are meeting all the child's needs and we are very confident about doing that."

World's oldest mother

Mr Farrant said the couple had received more than 200 letters, cards and e-mails of goodwill from members of the public and only one, unsigned letter that was "negative in tone".

Speaking on the steps of the couple's four-storey townhouse on Saturday he said: "I'm happy, we are happy."

Dressed in shorts, sandals and a T-shirt, he said his wife and JJ had no immediate plans to leave the house.


Dr Rashbrook described the birth as "absolutely wonderful"

"He's had enough excitement in the last couple of days," he said.

The couple said the baby had been nicknamed JJ early in the pregnancy, but were yet to decide what his full name would be.

Dr Rashbrook described her son, who was delivered by Caesarean section at Sussex County Hospital, in Brighton, on Wednesday, as "adorable", adding: "Having been through so much to have him, we are overjoyed.

"His birth was absolutely wonderful and deeply moving for both of us."

The couple said the baby had been nicknamed JJ early on in the pregnancy, but are yet to decide what his full name will be.

Dr Rashbrook is not the first woman in her 60s to become a new mother.

Liz Buttle, from Wales, was 60 years old when she gave birth to a son, Joseph, in 1997.

The oldest woman in the world to give birth is thought to be Adriana Iliescu, from Romania, who had a daughter called Eliza Maria in January last year at the age of 66.

[chance]

I personally dont think anyone has the right to say no you cant have a child 'you are too old' they obviously knew the risks and what was involved,they are old enough after all to make there own desisions.As long as they pay for there own treatment and mum is healthy i personally dont see the harm in it.I understand some people will see it as selfish as the baby will lose his parents when its still quite young bu then so could anyone,we could go out and get hit by a bus tomorrow.Live for today..

[pookie1968uk]

i think when nature has taken its course then that should be it.
if a 62yr old will be allowed to have a baby then whats to stop a 70yr old? it could go on and on, ridiculous in my opinion!

[Pixie]

In the end I do agree that its up to the parents to be themselves and no one can stop them having a child but I dont really think its right as its a bit mean on the child. They may be fit and healthy now but they will be in their 70's and could start developing health problems etc. Then the chiuld may end up having to look after their parents before they are even adults themselves. PLus is a 70yr old really going to be able to keep up energy wise with an 8 yr old child

[Pinkbanana]

I feel for the baby because on top of dealing with the normal problems children face when growing up, that child will have the added worry of a parent dying sooner rather than later, and will have to face the issue of death much sooner than most of his/her peers.

Yes you can get hit by a bus tomorrow, but as someone who lost their mother at a young age I wouldn't want to wish that situation and pain on any child or young adult. A childhood should be a carefree time, and if your mother (like in this case) is in their 60s, then you are going to be living with the real fear of losing that parent when you are young. I think to deliberately put a child in that situation is rather cruel.

[emma_strange]

In a way i thnik it is too old, but then again, a 62 year old mum would give a child a better life than a twenty something year old drug adict. So, i do't really think we can judge.

[lollymay]

hmmm i think its too old because by the time that that child is 16 - the mother will be 78.

my nan isnt even 78 and im 16.

its the equivilant of my nan being my mother - personally i dont think its right.

[leanne27]

should be made illegal it isnt fare on the baby having to lose their parents when they are only what? teenagers

[CrazyLea]

I think it's definatley too old!! Think of the child... when they are 10, the parents are kind of near enough dying... I mean I know some people live quite old, but that's not guaranteed, I think it's incredibly selfush!!

[Jojo]

I think its extremely selfish - women go through the menopause for a reason (although I think men should have one too :D :rotfl: )

To have a child at this age, IMO, is purely selfish on the parents part. Apart from the health risks involved in having a child at this age anyway.

[Cornishbabe]

Im not sure. people are living longer and there is nothing to say the parents may not live into there 100's. If they want to have a child and think they can be good parents then they hsould be allowed to do so. The child concerned already has grown up siblings which I am sure will be mor than happy to help with the upbringing if required.

Yes the parents may die tomorrow but whats to say a 20 year old mother wont walk out of their front door and get hit by a car?

[JustJodi]

I am with JOJO... having a baby at that age is pure selfishness!!!When the Kid is 15.. mom will be 77.at that age she could have been a grandmom or a great grand mom...Nah there are too many health implications involved.
I had my son at 20,,, he made me a grand ma at 54.. So at least I am young enough to enjoy my grandson,,,
I would murder my doctor/and husband if he told me tomorrow I was preggers:rotfl:

[true.moon]

i definaltly think this is outragous!! How can she have it at such an age like that doesn't she think about the kid and when it grows up it will have no parents because they will probably be dead? How will they take them places as soon they wont be able to drive for being to old. I think they have only thought about themsleves for getting a newspaper deal and not given one thought to that poor little baby. :nono: definaly too old to have a baby

[willow]

i think it is a bit too old, when the baby is 10 she will be 72!!!!
i have a 10 year old son and at times i have trouble keeping up with him and i am 29!!!!

[Abbie]

I think id is too old i mean i have always thought of myself have children fairly young but not too young cos i want to be able to see them grow up and actually meet m grandchildren, which in this case if you think about it they might never meet their grandchild and i jst think thats so sad.

[Kim]

If those parents live an average life then by the time that child is 15, it will have lost it's dad and lost it's mum by the age of 18. I don't think it should be illegal but it would take someone extremely selfish to want to inflict that on their own child.

[Abbie]

If those parents live an average life then by the time that child is 15, it will have lost it's dad and lost it's mum by the age of 18. I don't think it should be illegal but it would take someone extremely selfish to want to inflict that on their own child. I know i mean if i got to that age and didnt have a child no matter how badly i wanted one i dont think i could do that.

[Katy]

i think that for the child they will never really know there mum if you know what i mean. I think also there parents will be older than there friends grandparents at school and its just something that kids would pick on.

[Abbie]

i think that for the child they will never really know there mum if you know what i mean. I think also there parents will be older than there friends grandparents at school and its just something that kids would pick on. awwww i know but im guessing they wanted a baby REALLY badly.

[Rain_]

I think the stigma that will be attached to the child as it grows up has been ignored by the parents. Imagine the embarrassment when the child is playing in the park and someone says to the parents what a lovely grandchild they have? Or the other children at school making fun of them for having such old parents, we all know children can be so cruel at times.
They might be fit and healthy now but old age is a perculiar thing and can creep up on people without warning. Granted, like many of you are saying, I could walk out of the door tomorrow and get hit by a bus, but, I am probably 100% less likely than them to develop arthoritis or any other number of ailments associated with old age.

[Chris_2k11]

Far too old yes. Imagine the stick the kid would get if people found out from school!!

[Abbie]

for having such old parents, we all know children can be so cruel at times.
They might be fit and healthy now but old age is a perculiar thing and can creep up on people without warning. Granted, like many of you are saying, I could walk out of the door tomorrow and get hit by a bus, but, I am probably 100% less likely than them to develop arthoritis or any other number of ailments associated with old age. I know they are going to inflict hard times on their child as maybe they wont be able to cope at some ages, due to old ages things (sorry cant think of anything right now).

[diamond1]

I am happy for them the age may seem alittle weird but I would rahter have a loving doting parent thats older than I would someone who couldnt care less whos quite young...
if you see my point

[Pinkbanana]

Yeah older parents may have more time and be better off financially than younger parents. But an OAP becoming a parent is pushing the boundaries a little too far. I guess they could use the basket on the front of their shop mobility buggy to transport the child around in, which is better for the environment than driving the kid to school in a 4X4! So I guess you have to view it from all angles!!! lol

Though still think 62 is way, way too old. I dont understand why anyone would want a child at that age. :confused:

[Abbie]

I am happy for them the age may seem alittle weird but I would rahter have a loving doting parent thats older than I would someone who couldnt care less whos quite young...
if you see my point yer dont get me worng i am happy for them but its just their child JJ, think wel he is going to loose his parents at fairly young age, it would just be heartbraking.

[diamond1]

hmmm very true I would hate that to happen for him aswell if they live till 80-ish then he will be what 18?

Im sorry but I cant help but laugh at the thought of him bringing a girl home whns he that age and she says this is a old peoples home are you showing me your grandparents and he goes yeah my mum and dad are here:rotfl:


I feel bad now for sayng that but think about it....funny and true

[Pinkbanana]

hmmm very true I would hate that to happen for him aswell if they live till 80-ish then he will be what 18?

Im sorry but I cant help but laugh at the thought of him bringing a girl home whns he that age and she says this is a old peoples home are you showing me your grandparents and he goes yeah my mum and dad are here:rotfl:



Well its better than taking her to visit a graveyard! Oops, I have been corrupted by D1!

[diamond1]

haha thata unfair I dont have a warped sense of humor

I never mentioned the graveyard

[Pinkbanana]

haha thata unfair I dont have a warped sense of humor



I refer you back to the Brad and Stace thread and a post about Bradley, his mum and his dairy intolerance?! - does that ring any bells?! lol

[diamond1]

I refer you back to the Brad and Stace thread and a post about Bradley, his mum and his dairy intolerance?! - does that ring any bells?! lol

oh yeah lmao forgot about that-you have a fair point there:clap:

[Jojo]

Well its better than taking her to visit a graveyard! Oops, I have been corrupted by D1!
hmmm very true I would hate that to happen for him aswell if they live till 80-ish then he will be what 18?

Im sorry but I cant help but laugh at the thought of him bringing a girl home whns he that age and she says this is a old peoples home are you showing me your grandparents and he goes yeah my mum and dad are here


I feel bad now for sayng that but think about it....funny and true
Not having a go at anyone here, but please - whatever our opinions are, there are people out there with older parents. My husband lost both of his parents by 21 within a year of each other. His dad, uncle and aunt all died within 3 weeks of each other, so thats taking it slightly too far IMO. People with older parents, could well be reading these threads and if my parents were older, I wouldn't be too happy seeing something like this written about them :)

[Pinkbanana]

I too have lost several close relatives including my mother (not a older mother) and guess Im desensitised in some ways to certain things/topics. I apologise to anyone offended by my comment.

[Jojo]

I too have lost several close relatives including my mother (not a older mother) and guess Im desensitised in some ways to certain things/topics. I apologise to anyone offended by my comment.
My hubby's parents had only just hit 60, so they weren't what you would call old either, certainly should have had a few years left in them and like has been said already, you can get knocked over by a bus, you can die of illnesses etc, but I personally feel we have to be sensitive to other peoples feelings :D

Good of you to apologise though - I wasn't meaning for you to, but thanks :D

[Sherbs]

62 maybe be too old to have a baby.
But..........we are proven to be living a lot longer now than ever before.
And these people have obviously got plenty of money.

But there we have the class divide.

If it was a poor person doing it then there would be complete uproar, as, lets be honest, if the parents die when the child is 16, not only will the child be left parentless, they would also be pennyless.

But this couple obviously have money, and plenty of it. So, although there child may be left parentless, he wont be left pennyless.

I know that sounds harsh, but its reality.
The worst effect of losing a parent, other than the obvious, is that they were the rock you relied on if trouble arose.
They are/were who you went to when you needed help buying that first car, or help in Uni. with fee's/living.

And that pain can be as bad as the actual loss itself, because all of a sudden, you have nobody......and nothing!
:cartman:

[X~xLaylax~X]

i agree with you sherbs ! 62 is way to old in my opinionif they have younger relatives that could adopt the child them maybe yes and they had quite a bit of money but old people having a kid with no other family i dont agree with !or poor people ! menapause it totally natural and you should only have a child that came naturally to nature not when you are close to death and old enought to be the babys great grandmother !

[EE Rocks]

I chose yes, but i think you can have a baby whenever just as long as you can look after it properly. I'd say 50 - 60 as the limit.