70-year-old grandma gives birth to twins?

Published: July 4, 2008 at 9:10 AM

NEW DELHI, July 4 (UPI) -- The birth of twins Friday has a 70-year-old woman in India staking her claim as the world's oldest mother.

Providing that claim, however, could be difficult because Omkari Panwar doesn't have a birth certificate nor does she know when she was born, The Daily Telegraph reported from India Friday. She guesstimates her age by saying she was 9 years old when the British Raj left India in 1947.

The boy and girl each weighed 2 pounds when they were delivered a month early by Cesarean section. Doctors at Jaswant Roy Specialty Hospital said the twins are expected to survive.

The woman, who has two grown daughters, stirred controversy when she underwent in vitro fertilization treatment to produce a male heir, the British newspaper said.

Husband Charan Singh Panwar, 77, said he mortgaged his land, sold livestock, depleted his life savings and took out a credit-card loan to finance the treatment.

The new mom said being the oldest mother means nothing to her.

"I just want to see my new babies and care for them while I am still able," she said.

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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