60-Year-Old Woman Gives Birth To Twins

N.J. Psychologist Says She Wants Women To Feel Empowered To Pursue Goals Despite Age

(CBS/AP)  A 60-year-old New Jersey psychologist gave birth to two boys Tuesday, making her possibly the oldest woman ever to deliver twins in the United States.

Frieda Birnbaum gave birth to "Baby A" at 12:44 p.m. and "Baby B" a minute later by Caesarean section at Hackensack University Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Nancy Radwin said. The twins each weighed 4 pounds, 11 ounces, she said.

Birnbaum told CBS' The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm that age and longevity were not considerations for her. "I didn't know I was that old. And then I'm looking at the media and seeing '60-year-old woman.' I said, 'That's me?' Because I don't know what age means, you know? I feel like a 40-year-old."

"It's being defined as something incredible. I'm not doing anything incredible; my energy, my pregnancy, my delivery — there were no complications.

Birnbaum, a psychologist from Saddle River, underwent in-vitro fertilization last year in Cape Town, South Africa, at a center that specializes in older women. She and her husband, Ken, a New York attorney, have been married for 38 years.

"I suppose age has been redefined, hopefully," she told Storm, admitting that her television appearance was in part to let other women know that "if they feel like it and they feel young enough, go do whatever it is you want to do. It's about empowerment for women."

Birnbaum was not concerned by the fact that she would be 80 when her twin boys attend college. "My parents both lived on into their 90s," she said. "My father was 92; my mother was 89. They were mentally sound. And they'd both be alive [today] if not for medical negligence. So we've had no problems with that decision, as far as longevity is concerned."

She said she and her husband wanted their 6 ½-year-old boy to have siblings of a comparable age. (They have two older children — a son, 33, and a daughter, 29).

Coincidentally, Tuesday was the birthday of twins born one year ago to a 59-year-old woman — also to a New Jersey woman. Lauren Cohen gave birth to Gregory and Giselle on May 22, 2006, at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia.

Cohen said Birnbaum contacted her after seeing her name in a magazine and that the two quickly became friends.

"We talked about babies; I suggested things that would be helpful when you try to feed two babies simultaneously," Cohen said.

[phoenix1218]

anniepema,
This husband is probably not even the biological father of these boys just as his wife is obviously not the biological mother.

[anniepema]

The greatest danger for the welfare is the age of the father (63) of these two boys. Most de novo genetic illnesses and disorders have their root in the mutated sperm DNA of an older father, whether it is diabetes, MS, prostate cancers, ALS, depression, ALL, or the mother of all genetic disorders that comes from damaged DNA in sperm autism/schizophrenia, etc.etc. It is likely that these boys will have problems of some sort. The total ignorance this man demonstrated through conceiving these children through IVF and the negligence of the fertility industry is appalling.

http://how-old-is-too-old.blogspot.com/

[angelachevy]

Amen Sista (Phoenix)!!
Those who preach as Mormonman1 does with his self righteous attitude, usually have many skeletons in their own closet. You made an excellent point about Polygamy! Now we know why he's the way he is. Wonder how many of his wives are minors....EEEEKKKKK! Run while you can ladies! :-)

[phoenix1218]

Oh, and BTW my husband says that if we could all have 8 wives IVF would never be an issue. Try seperating your church from science. And don't forget to donate to the Romney campaign. My husband says he would like an extra wife so when I get old we don't have to do IVF he can just get her pregnant, to satisfy your whim (he doesn't like farm animals) but then again, since you are a polygamist maybe he can have one of yours if you are not "USING" her, you self obbsessed, power tripping, unregistered s3x offender. As you say polygamy isn't about the s3x but the amount of wives you have. If that is not power & control then maybe they need to rewrite the s3x offender registry.

[angelachevy]

Phoenix, thanks same here! I know a way: find me on myspacedotcom. The last part of the standard myspace URL type in 'angelayeehaa'...or do a search under display name: AngelaChevy and send me a friend request :).

[phoenix1218]

Angela, wish there was a way to give you my email without having the whole world have it. You are TOO funny.

[angelachevy]

Now THAT was too funny and so true!!! (I'm still laughing and so are my co-workers) YOU go Phoenix1218! :-)

[phoenix1218]

How true...we all need a little entertainment and this was free. Mormon should start charging so he has more money to give to his church.

[angelachevy]

Thanks Phoenix1218 :). Mormonman1 has serious issues, but at least he's created his own fantasy for all of us to laugh at. That's entertainment ;).

[phoenix1218]

YOU GO ANGELACHEVY!!!!!

Cheap Shot vs. Intelligence: Oh, was I mistaken? Are you all now giving MORE than 20% of your income to the Mormon Church? My bad! That%u2019s not so cheap! As far as intelligence goes on your part: You are making it completely obvious to everyone that you are just another Bible Thumper passing judgment on others when you can%u2019t even make sense of your own statement by DARING to compare a couple%u2019s decision to have a child through medical science with %u2018whacko%u2019s%u2019 who would defend marrying a goat? That has got to be the most ridiculous thing I%u2019ve heard on this comment site. Your close-minded, ignorant attitude sure does sounds as if you have not been out much in the modern world, unless it%u2019s your own guilty conscience about what your personal fantasy is with goats!

Posted by angelachevy