57-year-old woman gives birth to twins

A 57-year-old woman gave birth to twins, Wednesday, becoming the oldest new mother.

Seoul’s Asan Medical Center announced that the new mother, surnamed Park, gave birth to fraternal twins through a Caesarean section Thursday morning.

The babies are both very healthy, according to the hospital.

Professor Kim Ahm at the hospital’s department of gynecology told the Yonhap News Agency that the “babies were born normally within 36 weeks because the mother took care of her health especially well.”

This is the first time for Park to give birth. She is now the oldest woman to give birth here and to have twins.

Until now, the oldest Korean to give birth was 55, also with the help of Kim’s team.

The professor said Park showed “enormous passion in working out and controlling her diet.”

“Her passion toward remaining healthy made us think she was really desperate to have a baby. This birth is a victory of mankind and should be congratulated,” he said.

Park had tried to conceive for the past 27 years after getting married but was left with fertility problems after suffering from peritonitis.

Her family had asked her to stop trying to get pregnant but Park did not stop because she loved children. She then went through menopause 12 years ago.

Park, however, did not give up. She said she decided to give it a last try after she saw a TV program where an old lady who lived alone looked sad and lonely without children.

“I tried to revive the function of my ovary through strict health management and with Oriental medicine despite the fact that I’m over the recommended age for pregnancy. I told myself every day that I would become a mother and that this dream will come true,” Park told the news agency.

After two years of hard work, she was finally able to conceive a child through artificial insemination.

“When I finally became pregnant, I cried so much out of joy. I’m so happy to give a big present to my husband who is 60 this year. I’m glad the kids are twins so that they can lean on each other when they grow up even if mom and dad grow old,” she said. <The Korea Times/Yun Suh-young>

news@theasian.asia