Maria del Carmen Bousada de Lara
Encyclopedia
María del Carmen Bousada de Lara (January 5, 1940 – July 11, 2009) was a Spanish
woman who gained worldwide attention when she became the world's oldest mother on December 29, 2006. She later became an outspoken advocate for the rights of older mothers and a subject of considerable controversy.
The twin baby boys, Christian and Pau, were delivered prematurely by caesarean section
and weighed 3.5 lb (1.6 kg) each.
Bousada de Lara admitted that she had lied to physicians about her age when seeking in vitro fertilization treatment at a clinic in California
. At the time of the delivery, Bousada was the world's oldest documented mother. She eclipsed the record established in 2005 by Romania
n mother Adriana Iliescu
, who was also 66. Two years later, Omkari Panwar, a 70 year-old woman from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh
gave birth to twins. However; Panwar's age cannot be officially documented.
Bousada herself vehemently defended her decision. At the time of the birth, she stated, "Everyone has to have children at the right time for them. This was the right time for me. It was something I always dreamed of." In an interview in 2006 she stated, that her mother had reached an age of 101 and that therefore she expects a good chance to bring up her children and perhaps even to see her grandchildren.
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
woman who gained worldwide attention when she became the world's oldest mother on December 29, 2006. She later became an outspoken advocate for the rights of older mothers and a subject of considerable controversy.
The twin baby boys, Christian and Pau, were delivered prematurely by caesarean section
Caesarean section
A Caesarean section, is a surgical procedure in which one or more incisions are made through a mother's abdomen and uterus to deliver one or more babies, or, rarely, to remove a dead fetus...
and weighed 3.5 lb (1.6 kg) each.
Bousada de Lara admitted that she had lied to physicians about her age when seeking in vitro fertilization treatment at a clinic in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. At the time of the delivery, Bousada was the world's oldest documented mother. She eclipsed the record established in 2005 by Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n mother Adriana Iliescu
Adriana Iliescu
Adriana Iliescu is a retired Romanian university lecturer and author of children's novels. She received international media attention in 2005, when she gave birth to daughter Eliza at age 66, making her the oldest birth mother in the world until this record was broken in 2006...
, who was also 66. Two years later, Omkari Panwar, a 70 year-old woman from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
gave birth to twins. However; Panwar's age cannot be officially documented.
Death
Bousada died of stomach cancer on July 11, 2009, when her sons were two and a half years old.Ethical controversy
Critics of later-late motherhood characterized Bousada's decision to have children as "selfish, unnatural and wrong, her children innocent victims in her pernicious plan for reproductive self-gratification." Her own brothers publicly criticized her decision.Bousada herself vehemently defended her decision. At the time of the birth, she stated, "Everyone has to have children at the right time for them. This was the right time for me. It was something I always dreamed of." In an interview in 2006 she stated, that her mother had reached an age of 101 and that therefore she expects a good chance to bring up her children and perhaps even to see her grandchildren.
See also
- Adriana IliescuAdriana IliescuAdriana Iliescu is a retired Romanian university lecturer and author of children's novels. She received international media attention in 2005, when she gave birth to daughter Eliza at age 66, making her the oldest birth mother in the world until this record was broken in 2006...