Jivuben Rabari is enjoying her first motherhood experience at 70. She is married to Valbhai Rabari for 45 years. The only thing that bothered the otherwise happy couple was their unfulfilled desire to experience parenthood. The couple based in Rapar Taluka of Kutch had tried several means to conceive but it all went in vain. Last year, the illiterate couple were recommended to visit a gynaecologist in a private hospital. The couple thought to give it one last try. When they met Dr Naresh Bhanushali he became a mediator in successful childbirth for the aged couple.
“We’ve been longing for a child since we married many years ago, but it didn’t work for us, but those sad days are over.” said the new mother, Jivuben.
Dr Bhanushali said, “IVF has revolutionised the way we look at infertility. Infertility is no longer a social taboo or a divine curse. It can be treated scientifically. Even though IVF, it is difficult to conceive a child after 45 years of marriage but in this case, the woman could conceive on the first go. We explained the risks and procedure of IVF to the couple and they were optimistic to give it a try. We didn’t have to put in extra efforts in convincing the couple as they were enthusiastic about trying IVF even though they didn’t completely understand it. When the Rabari community of Rapar taluka knew about this case their faith in science and nature were reaffirmed. I’m happy for the couple and their progressive step.” During IVF, a woman’s egg is fertilized with a man’s sperm outside of the body. Eventually, the embryo is placed inside the woman’s womb in the hopes that she’ll become pregnant.
The doctors kept her under observation in the hospital to avoid any complications. “Her health condition had been constantly monitored by cardiologists, gynaecologists and nutritionists all these days. Since it is very difficult for her to have normal delivery in view of her age, she delivered the baby through caesarean.” Describing it as a rare case, the woman had no problems in conceiving and delivering the baby even at her age because she had no medical complications like diabetes and hypertension.
“Though we didn’t understand the IVF procedure we trusted God and the doctor. We trusted them and it paid off. We are incredibly happy Said her husband Valabhai hours after the babies were born. They have named their son Lalo— he was born “healthy and hearty” and weighing around 2 kgs.
Yet however happy Jivuben is with the arrival of their son, the situation will raise fresh concerns about the ‘shifting boundaries of fertility’. Researchers accept that the ‘newborn can be called a triumph of science over infertility’ but it raises concerns on the impact of the parents’ possible deaths before their son has reached adulthood. In reply to this particular concern, a relative of Jivanben said, ‘they should not worry about bringing up their son there are many people in her family to take care of her’.
