After being discharged from the hospital, the Ugandan woman who gave birth to twins at 70 using in-vitro fertilization (IVF) revealed the first images of her infants.
Safina Namukwaya received twins, a son and a daughter, on November 29, 2023, at Women’s Hospital International and Fertility Centre (WHI&FC) in Uganda.
The mother of three brought her son and daughter home for the first time on January 6. According to Today, she named her daughter Shakira Babiyre Nabagala and her son Kato Shafique Kangave.
Ms Namukwaya is a “loving” and “playful” mother, according to Dr Edward Tamale Sali, a reproductive specialist at the hospital, who added, “She can’t stop staring at them.”
“At 70, Safina Namukwaya’s maternal love blossoms into a miracle, cradling twins alongside Dr Edward Tamale-Sali,” the hospital’s Facebook page captioned photos.
“Their hands contain not only babies but also gems of hope, demonstrating that a mother’s love transcends time and age.” The pleasure of birth shines unspoiled in this emblematic moment at Women’s Hospital International and Fertility Centre, echoing Africa’s tenacious spirit, where every desire is fostered with love and care.”
When the twins were delivered on November 29, local Ugandan broadcaster NTV Uganda said, “Mother and babies are all well,” adding that the twins weighed 3 pounds, 7 ounces. They are now said to weigh more than 5 pounds each.
The hospital applauded her, saying it was more than just a “medical success; it’s about the strength and resilience of the human spirit,” according to the BBC.
Ms Namukwaya told the publication that her elderly pregnancy was difficult, saying, “There was a time when I felt very sick because of the pregnancy.” I spent almost all of my savings. Then I went to a hospital and explained my situation to the doctor.”
Ms. Namukwaya underwent in-vitro fertilization (IVF) using a donor egg and her partner’s sperm, according to Dr. Sali. He went on to say that the twins were delivered 31 weeks early and had to be placed in an incubator.
She previously gave birth to a daughter at the age of 66 in 2020, who is now three years old, before giving birth to her twins.
In the United States, the age limit for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other medically assisted reproduction is generally in the mid-50s, and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) discourages embryo transfer “in women over the age of 55.”
A very big congratulations to her!
