ISRAEL — “I've waited for a baby for so long, I'm so happy,” a woman who became the proud mother of a firstborn son at the age of 60, told Yedioth Ahronoth Wednesday.
The woman and her husband, an ultra-Orthodox couple living in the central Israel community of Kfar Khabad, were married over 40 years ago, and have been trying to have a child for nearly four decades.
60-Year-Old Lubavitcher Becomes First-Time Mom
ISRAEL — “I’ve waited for a baby for so long, I’m so happy,” a woman who became the proud mother of a firstborn son at the age of 60, told Yedioth Ahronoth Wednesday.
The woman and her husband, an ultra-Orthodox couple living in the central Israel community of Kfar Khabad, were married over 40 years ago, and have been trying to have a child for nearly four decades.
The woman underwent numerous fertility treatments, and eight months ago finally became pregnant, but experienced various complications, which Prof. Moshe Hod, head of the High-Risk Pregnancy Unit at the Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva, said were typical of her age.
The woman went into premature labor about three weeks ago. She was hospitalized in an attempt to stop the early delivery, but soon after that doctors had no choice but to deliver the baby, which came into the world in the 34th week of pregnancy and at 4.29lbs.
“The woman is doing absolutely fine,” said Prof. Hod. “She’s in recovery with her son and she’s euphoric. Naturally, she is going to have to be under observation for a while.”
At the age of 60 a woman can no longer conceive a childe naturally and the process requires an egg donation. The rest of the process is the same as any other in vitro fertilization and once an embryo has been created and deemed viable, it is transferred into the woman’s uterus.
While technically there is no reason for a healthy woman in her 60s – or even 70s – not to become pregnant, such late pregnancies have sparked an ethical debate within the international medical community, with the two main questions remaining the process’ fairness of the child – who may be orphaned at a young age; and the question of how much can we really interfere with nature.
congrads
mazel tov!
JKL
Mazel tov! Nobody should have to remain childless if there is a chance to have a child. I hope and pray these parents have a long and healthy life with their beloved new baby. Along with the support of the community, friends, and family members, the child should grow up happy, cared for, and loved for as long as he lives.
:)
Mazel Tov! Mazel Tov! Lots of Chassidishe nachas…..All the brachos…
I saw this same thing on a different website, with different info!! She was a 55 yr. old woman, and waiting for 24 years?!?!?
I’m just wondering what’s going on here…
Moshie
Mazal Tov!!! mucha nachas and many years of happiness!
are the genes technically from the parents?
EXACTLY
while i rejoice at this wonderful piece of news, i think someone was misinformed. i saw on at least 2 other websites the same article only that they were married 24 years and that mrs. estrika is 55 years old
please check out facts b4 u ppsr.
MAZAL TOV!!!!!!
Dovid
:) wrote: I will tell u whats going on here is hashems brochos :D
shecuna aien voyner
so its true “ its never 2 late ” mazal tov may the 2 parents live a long life and see there son 2 the chuppa healty and happy
happy to see good news
I also saw a post on another site claiming that she was 55 and been married 24years. In the picture she looks older than 55.
Moishe, the baby is not genetically hers. They used a donor. Women of that age can no longer become pregnant the natural way, even with IVF. I think that halachically this baby is different from an adopted child because it grew in her womb. I hope that I am right because an adopted child cannot view his adopted mother as his mother when it comes to yichud and physical contact after a certain point in childhood. Possibly this child’s circumstances are more like that of a natural son, although a posek would really have to decide.
Kapachi
There was a ksav yad kodesh from the rebbe in a Tshura last week about this inyan, if someone could scan it.
Also this story involved a double nes from the rebbe, Igros and the Mikveh Mei Menachem in Bais Rivka Kfar Chabad Bais
Shmuli
The Mikva Mei Menachem?
Am I missing something?
ceo
I understand the concern about her age as far as the child’s welfare, but truth be told that if she sets up a support system (which everyone needs to have) then it should be fine. How many couples lose a spouse chasve sholom, or divorce, or whatever, and its not good for the child. These are parents that will want to set up security for the child and will do as good or better than others who didnt have this challenge
I wish her lots of nachas and health, and Moshiach tzidkeinu should come tekef umeyad mamash so there will be no more worries
Donated eggs are ossur by Lubavitch
B“H
When I asked a sha’aloh of a very competant rav, about using donated eggs to become pregnant, I was told it is ossur. So we didn’t do it. As a result, we have our one child who was born the normal way, B”H, B“H, B”H. But that’s it.
It really hurts to see publicity making it look like this is OK by Lubavitch. It is NOT!
In fact, the frum organization that helps frum couples who have fertility issues, Bonei Olam, has a policy that none of their resources will be used to help with “donated egg” pregnancies. So it’s not just Lubavitch that holds this way.
How “Ultra-Orthodox” can this family be????
moshiach now!
mazal tov!
confusing
This leaves a lot of confusion for babies born this way: who is considered the mother and siblings of the child, the child’s status for pidyon haben (was the donor a bas Kohen or bas Levi?) and if it’s considered a first-born, who the father is and what is his status with regard to the woman who donated, etc.
mazal tov
Yeah this isn’t her biological child if the egg was donated.
chany
bottom line she had a baby bh so if she is a ultra orthodox women she prob asked s/o who’s a rav or s/t think b/4 u judge may the family have true nachas from their baby
Zev
The Halacha of egg donation in Israel differs somewhat from that in “chutz-la-Oretz”. Besides many Rabbbonim have different opinions on the subject. However this is not the right forum for such discussions in my opinion.
MAZAL TOVVV
mazalll tov!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this is amazing to hear!!!!! BH
mazal tov once again
MAZAL TOV
Whatever means they used to bring this baby into the world what an AMAZING! INCREDIBLE! Bracha from Hashem they recieved by being the keili for this neshamato enter the world! What wonderful news! The newborn should always be a source of nachas to its parents who should have much much strengh to deal with it
lubfanatic
55 -60 is the same
mazel tov MaZEL TOV!
PLease, someone can shed light in the Igros’ nes
Hodu Lashem
Baruch Hashem, this couple has demonstrated unbelievable mesiras nefesh in doing an essential mitzvah!
In order to publicize this absolutely Divine miracle, they even sacrificed their privacy, and exposed themselves to people who proudly believe that they know all of Torah and can determine Hashem’s will.
But the greatest miracle is they not lose hope for 40 years!
Incredible!
None of us should lose hope.
Dear Zev
B”H
Dear Zev,
Why would the halachot of egg donation be different in Eretz Yisroel, from the halachot in the rest of the world?
Are you telling me that our moving to Eretz Yisroel would change the ruling, and cause me to be halachically permitted to increase the size of our family via egg donation?
Please answer, as there may be neshamas waiting for just this opportunity to come down!
Thanks!
yente
Mazal Tov! realy nice!
so happy for them!
BH
Mazel Tov! I wish this mother much Nachas and joy from her new baby boy, she probably asked her Rov regarding all the details. I’m surprised that they publicized such private matters I mean one day this child will grow up… Its really no ones business how etc. Much nachas, this is a present from Hashem
TO EXACTLY
HOW DO U KNOW THE OTHER 2 WEBSITES AREN’T WRONG
exaclty
i do not know. i wonder which is correct.
now i was wondering about that that you shouldnt have a baby at such a advanced age because its sort of cruel to the kid that hes going to become a yasom so early in life.
i mean, even if the parents live till like 80-90 as an average person would, the baby will already be married, have a life of his own! and to think that maybe he shouldnt be brought to this world, even if the parents would CH”V pass away sooner, at least they had the zechus of bringing a jewish child into this world