Oldest Mom Maria del Carmen Bousada Dies At Age 69

A Spanish woman named Maria del Carmen Bousada, widely considered the oldest woman to have given birth, has died at age 69, leaving behind a pair of two year old twins.

Bousada was 66 when she had her twins, a result of lying to fertility specialists at a California clinic about her age. (Can’t medical professionals… tell? And don’t you need extensive documentation in order to receive these treatments?) At any rate, she told the clinic that she was a spry 55 years old and insists they never asked her for identification. 

At the time, Bousada said that, since her own mother lived to be 101, she had a good chance of being around long enough to raise her children to adulthood. Guess tía was wrong!

While Bousada’s exact cause of death is yet unknown, it has been reported in some places that she developed a tumor shortly after giving birth to her twins, named Pau and Cristian. Bousada, who was single at the time she conceived and is thought to have remained so, said she would find a younger man to help her care for the children. It is unknown who will care for their twins now that their mother is dead.

Perhaps being so keen on having babies that their future well-being is left wildly to chance (even when faced with the near certainly that you will not live to see their 18th birthdays) is a good indication that you’re still not quite ready to be a mom. Just a thought.

World’s oldest recent new mom, Maria del Carmen Bousada, dies, leaves twin toddlers [Examiner]