Spanish woman gives birth aged 62

A SPANISH woman nearing pension age has given birth to her third child via Caesarean section. Lina Alvarez, a 62-year-old doctor from Lugo in north-west Spain, gave birth to a healthy daughter who weighed 5.2lbs on October 10. 

Her daughter was born two weeks ahead of schedule after Ms Alvarez was admitted to hospital with high blood pressure and arrives despite medical odds given of just six per cent. 

Alvarez had steadfastly refused to accept the advice of doctors telling her that it was too late to pursue fertility treatment in her quest for a third child.

Despite hitting the menopause 20 years ago she found a doctor who would help and now claims to be the ‘happiest person on the planet’.

Although a full decade younger than the Indian pensioner thought to be the world’s oldest new mother, Alvarez’s case ignited acrimonious debate in Spain over the morality of pursuing a child at an advanced age. 

She was undaunted by the criticism, noting that women’s life expectancy is rising all the time and she could well be fit and healthy at 90 when her daughter is nearing her thirties.