59-year-old mother gives birth to ease the loneliness of old age

Feeling empty in her own home after her daughter settled abroad, Zou spent two years adjusting her lifestyle and improving her health to successfully conceive and give birth to a son weighing 1.9 kg.

The story of a woman named Zou, who gave birth at 59, is drawing significant attention in Zhangjiagang city, Jiangsu province, according to Ctwant on 13/1. Her health is now stable, and the baby is receiving intensive care in the pediatrics department. This event not only broke the local record for the oldest mother but also sparked lively discussions on social media regarding the choice to "have a child to reduce loneliness."

On 9/1, Zou successfully delivered a baby boy via C-section at the city's number one people's hospital in Zhangjiagang. Sharing her decision, she explained that with her daughter living abroad long-term, she and her husband often felt isolated. "As we grew older, my husband and I frequently felt an emptiness in our own home," she confided. At 57, she began to consider having another child, leading her to adjust her lifestyle, diet, and nourish her body. Ultimately, Zou successfully conceived with the help of assisted reproductive technologies.

Zou at the hospital after giving birth to her son via C-section. Photo: Urban Express Orange Interactive

When her pregnancy reached 11 weeks, she registered for delivery at the number one people's hospital. Recognizing this as a unique case, the medical team devised a specialized care plan. Doctor Guo Huiping, head of the obstetrics department, stated: "Typically, pregnant women over 35 are considered advanced maternal age. A 59-year-old case like Zou's is classified as extremely advanced maternal age, posing significant risks to both mother and child."

During the mid-to-late stages of her pregnancy, Zou began to experience dangerous symptoms such as high blood pressure, abnormal kidney function indicators, and severe edema in both legs. The hospital organized a multidisciplinary consultation involving anesthesiology, cardiology, nephrology, and pediatrics, deciding to perform a C-section when the fetus was 33 weeks and five days old. The surgery was successful, and the baby boy, weighing approximately 1.9 kg, was born healthy.

"Hearing my child cry, I was deeply moved. I am truly grateful to the doctors for helping me realize this dream," Zou said.

Her unique birth received many well wishes after being shared online. "It's wonderful the baby is healthy, this mother is truly brave," one person commented. "A great mother," another wrote. However, many expressed concerns about the practical issues of giving birth at an advanced age, asking: "Will the pension be enough for diapers and milk money?" or "If financial conditions are not ample, the child will face many hardships."

Zou's story brings to mind Sheng Hailin, who caused a stir in China when she gave birth to twins at 60. In 2009, Sheng lost her only daughter and son-in-law in an accident. The immense shock plunged her into severe depression. To find a family connection again, she decided to undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF). In 2010, she gave birth to two daughters, becoming China's oldest mother at the time.

Sheng faced complications such as high blood pressure, edema, and ascites. She shared: "Even if I had to sacrifice my life, I wanted to sustain this life."

To cover the costs of raising her children, the mother worked tirelessly. Against criticism that she was "selfish for having children in old age," she asserted: "My children saved my life."

Now, the 15-year-old twins have begun to care for their mother, reminding her to take medicine and always being by her side. After her husband passed away, her children became her only emotional pillar. "I am not afraid of death; I only fear lying down without anyone to care for my children," Sheng said.