Romanian Woman, 66, Becomes World’s Oldest Mother After Giving Birth to Baby Girl
A Romanian woman has captured global attention after giving birth at age 66, becoming the oldest mother in the world and sparking widespread debate about the limits of modern fertility treatment.
Adriana Iliescu delivered her daughter, Eliza Maria, by caesarean section on January 16 at Giulesti Maternity Hospital in Bucharest. Despite arriving six weeks early and weighing just 1.4 kilograms, the baby is thriving, and both mother and child are reported to be in stable condition.
A Record-Breaking Birth
Iliescu conceived through artificial insemination using donor eggs and sperm from young, healthy donors. Prior to the procedure, she underwent hormone therapy to restore the reproductive functions needed for pregnancy.
Originally carrying triplets, she lost one embryo at nine weeks. A second fetus developed heart failure later in the pregnancy, prompting doctors to perform an early C-section to save the remaining baby.
Hospital officials called the outcome remarkable.
“The baby is doing very well, and the mother is stable,” said Professor Bogdan Marinescu, the hospital’s director.
This birth surpasses previous records set by a 65-year-old Indian mother and earlier Guinness World Record holders Rosanna Della Corte of Italy and Arceli Keh of California, both of whom were 63.
A Debate Reignited
The news has renewed ethical and medical debate about late-age motherhood.
“This is scientifically impressive, but in my view, irresponsible,” said Richard Kennedy of the British Fertility Society.
Doctors caution that pregnancies at such an advanced age strain the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of heart failure, blood clots, and complications for both mother and baby. Ethicists also point to social concerns: raising a child at an age when most people are great-grandparents.
A Dream Finally Realized
Despite the criticism, Iliescu describes her daughter as the long-awaited gift she never thought she’d receive. Friends say she had dreamed of being a mother for decades but never had the opportunity earlier in life.
Now, holding Eliza Maria, she says she feels only gratitude — a testament to the power of science, perseverance, and hope, even as a global conversation continues around the cost and consequences of such miracles.
