67-Year-Old Chinese Woman Becomes China's Oldest New Mother

A 67-year-old Chinese woman is reported to have become the country's oldest new mother after giving birth to a baby girl on Friday.

The woman, identified only her surname Tian, comes from Shandong province and had the child by caesarean section at the Zaozhuang Maternity and Child Health Hospital.

Tian is the oldest woman ever to give birth in China, overtaking the previous record held by a woman from Changchun, Jilin province, who gave birth to a baby boy in 2016 at the age of 64.

Tian's husband, 68-year-old Huang said that the baby had not been planned but had been "sent by heaven".

The couple had therefore decided to call their new daughter Tianci, which translates as "given by God".

Huang is a lawyer and Tian a retired nurse. They already have a son and daughter and several grandchildren, the oldest of which is 18 and attending college.

Under Chinese law, couples are allowed to have no more than two children but since the withdrawal of the "one-child policy" in 2016, the government has been less stringent in applying the rules.

Tian said she knew she was still physically capable of having a baby but said the birth was stressful.

"It was painful, too painful," she said. "I couldn't even keep my eyes open."

Although Tian had been closely monitored throughout her pregnancy, the doctors decided on Friday that for the safety of the baby they should perform the caesarean section. The mother was 36 weeks pregnant at the time and had high blood pressure.

Tianci weighed in at 2.6kg and was taken to intensive care to be monitored, the report said.

Tian said she and Huang both had pensions and were in a good state of health.

"We'll strive to live to 110 years old," Huang said.

News of the birth spread on social media, where people debated the ethical questions of having a child at such an advanced age.

Source: SCMP

Editor: Crystal Huang

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