How old is too old to have a baby? Recently, a New Jersey woman delivered twin boys at the age of sixty! I must confess, as a health care professional who has worked in the obstetrical field for over 10 years, I could hardly believe my ears the first time I heard it. Who would think of helping to make this happen? Apparently, no one in this country, as the mother of three traveled to South Africa where she received in-vitro fertilization at a clinic. Sure, we have all heard of the fifty-year old woman who does it for extraordinary reasons. These women confess having done it to save their living adult child's life who required the cord blood of a sibling newborn to prevent inevitable death. They have done it for other selfless reasons such as to serve as a surrogate mother for the daughter who will never be able to give birth to a child of her own. Yet, in recent months we have been faced with a different kind of mother desiring to have children at the age of sixty.

This is a worthy discussion that really strikes a chord in many. First, the risks that accompany a pregnancy for a woman at the age of sixty makes pregnancy a dangerous effort for both mother and child. Many women at this age are faced with their own health complications such as diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, heart disease, etc... some with co-morbidities that could ultimately impact the development of the fetus or have long-term effects on the child's life. In addition, there is a far greater risk for chromosomal or genetic defects for women who become pregnant after the age of thirty-five.

Next, there is the argument that these children of the aging baby boomer generation are at risk of growing up without one or both parents. Currently, the life expectancy age is 75. This means that the twins delivered this week could possibly only have parents until the age of 15.

Finally, there is a strong concern as it relates to how effective an aging parent will be in disciplining their children. Even members of the 60-70 year old age group frequently describe themselves as being tired. They are at a time in their life in which they are winding down and ready to enjoy the years they have left. As a result, critics simply state that these children might not be as well disciplined as those who are raised by younger parents who have the energy. Yet, we know that many children are being raised by their grandparents just as effectively and do grow up to be capable, functional adults just like those who grow up in the "traditional" family.

Obviously, there is a double-standard that needs to be addressed as well. Men father babies quite frequently on in to their seventies, yet it seems that the public is rarely as enraged. It seems to be an accepted act. However, shouldn't men be held to the same criticisms as that of a woman who gives birth at the age of 60?

In conclusion, this is definitely a morality issue that should be investigated and studied over the next twenty years. It will be quite interesting to learn what the outcome is for those children who grow up in senior citizen households.