As initially reported by the AP, a 70-year-old Ugandan woman has made headlines by becoming Africa’s oldest new mother after giving birth to twins in Kampala.
Safina Namukwaya delivered a boy and a girl prematurely via cesarean section at 31 weeks, and both babies were placed in incubators but are reported to be in stable condition.
Namukwaya shared her joy, stating, “When I had a checkup, they told me I had twins, and I was very happy.”
And yes, she had a little extra help…
Her ability to conceive and give birth at this age was made possible through fertility treatment received at the Women’s Hospital International and Fertility Centre.
Dr. Edward Tamale Sali, who supervised her pregnancy and delivery, expressed amazement at this remarkable achievement, saying, “This is an extraordinary achievement, delivering twins to Africa’s oldest mother at 70 years.”
Namukwaya’s twin delivery follows her giving birth to a girl in 2020, making this her second childbirth in three years.
Dr. Sali emphasizes that age should not be the sole determinant of a woman’s ability to have a healthy pregnancy and childbirth, stating, “Age is just a number.
A young woman can also die of complications from pregnancy, and an old woman, if she is fit, can also survive.”
Advancements in medical technology and fertility treatments have expanded the possibilities for women to conceive and give birth even after menopause, which typically occurs between the ages of 45 to 55.
Oldest natural pregnancy
Because Namukwaya’s pregnancy was aided by fertility treatments, she’s not the oldest woman to have a natural pregnancy. That distinction belongs to Xinju Tian, who was 67 years old when she gave birth in 2023.
