In a groundbreaking medical feat that has stunned the world, 75-year-old Prabha Devi from a village near Kota, Rajasthan, has given birth to a baby girl through in-vitro fertilization (IVF), becoming the oldest recorded mother to deliver a child.
The baby, born prematurely at around 30 weeks, weighed only 680 grams at birth and was immediately placed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Despite the high-risk delivery, doctors confirmed that both mother and child were stable and recovering.
According to Dr. Abhilasha Kinker, the IVF specialist who supervised the pregnancy at Kinker Hospital, Prabha Devi had only one functioning lung due to a previous tuberculosis infection and also suffered from hypertension. “Her case was extremely delicate. Carrying a child at such an advanced age is medically risky and rare. We had to perform a C-section early due to signs of fetal distress,” she said.
This achievement places Prabha Devi ahead of the previous record-holder, Erramatti Mangayamma, who gave birth to twins at 74 in Andhra Pradesh in 2019. Devi’s pregnancy was made possible using donor eggs and her husband’s sperm through IVF.
Her decision was motivated by a lifelong desire for motherhood. Despite already having an adopted son, she wanted to experience biological motherhood. “I always dreamed of holding my own child. God has answered my prayers,” she reportedly told the medical team after the birth.
While the birth has sparked global interest, it has also raised ethical and medical concerns about advanced-age pregnancies. Experts warn of the high risks to both mother and child, and the challenges of raising a child at such an age. Many are calling for more stringent guidelines on age limits in fertility treatments.
Still, for Prabha Devi and her family, the moment is one of joy and triumph. “She is a symbol of hope, courage, and the miracle of modern medicine,” said a relative.
Medical bodies worldwide, including the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), have emphasized the importance of ethical considerations and medical suitability before performing IVF at such advanced ages.
