Nigeria: 68 year old gives birth to twins after waiting 43 years

A 68-year-old Nigerian woman who gave birth to twins earlier this month says it took her and her husband 43 years and three unsuccessful IVF procedures before they could conceive. 

Margarett Adenuga gave birth to the twins on 14th April at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. Both mother and babies are reported to be doing well and have been discharged.

Her 70-year-old husband, Noah Adengua, told reporters that their struggle to conceive had taken them to the UK and back to Nigeria but that their faith had never wavered through many years of childlessness. 

Mr Adengua said he had received messages from a group of fertility doctors calling his decision to pursue IVF reckless. He insisted that the decision was private and none of the doctors’ concern.

Attending physician Dr Adeyemani Okunowo called the birth “a miracle” but also pointed out that the couple took an enormous risk in getting pregnant at their late age.

Hospital management said they wouldn’t have conducted the IVF on a 68-year-old mother but admitted her to deliver because it was their medical responsibility. 

Photo: Lagos State University Teaching Hospital