A 68-year-old woman in Nigeria has given birth to twins after almost 50 years of trying to have children – including three failed IVF attempts.
After giving birth to a son and a daughter at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital with her husband Noah, 77, Margaret Adenuga is regarded as the oldest first-time mother in Africa (LUTH). The pair first began trying for a baby after getting married in 1974.
Though surprising, because of Adenuga’s age, the pregnancy was the result of years of planning — and never giving up hope. They welcomed twins after 46 years of trying and four IVF cycles. Boy and girl kids were both delivered via C-section.
Even though their names have not yet been released, both are said to be happy and healthy — just like their mom.
“I am a dreamer, and I was convinced this particular dream of ours will come to pass,” Adenuga, who is a retired stock auditor said.
Before conceiving the twins last year, the mother underwent three failed rounds of IVF until the procedure finally worked.
“As an elderly woman and a first-time mother, it was a high-risk pregnancy and also because she was going to have twins but we were able to manage her pregnancy to term,” said Dr. Adeyemi Okunowo, who delivered the babies at Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
He said: ‘As an elderly woman and a first-time mother, it was a high-risk pregnancy and also because she was going to have twins but we were able to manage her pregnancy to term.’
Because of Adenuga’s advanced age, Okunowo assembled a special team of doctors to monitor her pregnancy.
Surprisingly, she delivered at 37 weeks, almost reaching full term. As she healed, doctors held off on sharing the good news with the public for a week.
