A 59-year-old American is believed to have become the oldest woman in the world to give birth to twins, it has been reported.
Gregory and Giselle Garcia, the children of Lauren Cohen and her husband Frank Garcia, were safely delivered via Caesarean section despite grave problems.
During the delivery, when Mrs. Cohen had to undergo an emergency hysterectomy in order to save both her and the twins’ lives, she lost 33 pints of blood.
She told the newspaper: “I’m happy. I come out healthy, and the two babies came out healthy.”
Mrs Cohen, also has a 27-year-old daughter, Renee, from her first marriage. Mr Garcia, who is about 20 years younger than his wife, said: “Lauren has guts. She’s amazing.”
He added: “It was one of my dreams to have baby twins. It’s like a miracle.” Mrs Cohen said she had just wanted Raquel to have a brother or sister. “I wasn’t expecting twins,” she said. “But that’s what happened.”
She was taken to the hospital in March due to placenta previa, which occurs when the placenta presses up against the cervix, and placenta percreta, which occurs when the placenta grows through the uterus.
On May 24, a Caesarean section was scheduled, which was six weeks before the babies’ due date. However, two days earlier, Mrs. Cohen’s uterus’ wall was breached by the placenta, prompting medical professionals to intervene.
“They made a high incision,” the new mum said. “They pulled the babies out from the abdomen area without the placenta being disturbed.” However it was attached to the wall of her uterus “like crazy glue”.
“I’m grateful to the doctors at Columbia Presbyterian for saving my life and saving my babies’ lives,” Mrs Cohen said.
Adriana Iliescu, a Romanian woman who gave birth to a daughter named Eliza Maria in January of last year at the age of 66, is reportedly the oldest woman in the world to give birth. A twin sister died during birth.