In 2005, Adriana Iliescu, at the age of 66, became one of the oldest mothers ever recorded when she gave birth to her daughter, Eliza Marie. Utilizing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and undergoing a C-section delivery, Iliescu’s pregnancy was initially with twins, but sadly, one of the fetuses didn’t survive due to heart problems.

Eliza Marie was born approximately six weeks premature, weighing only 1.4 kilograms, less than half of the typical baby weight. Despite the challenges, both mother and child were allowed to return home after about six weeks of recovery.

Iliescu’s decision to have a child at such an advanced age drew criticism from medical specialists, considering potential harm to the elderly woman. Some expressed concerns about the ethical aspects of a mother being old enough to be her daughter’s great-grandmother.

Richard Kennedy, a spokesman for the British Fertility Society, called the decision “completely irresponsible.” Additionally, the Romanian Orthodox Church condemned the move, labeling it “selfish.”

Iliescu defended her choice, stating that becoming a mother was always her ultimate goal. She had been working toward it for years, attempting fertility treatments since 1995. Despite her age, Iliescu claimed to feel energetic and healthy, expressing her joy over having Eliza Marie.

As of the last known information, Adriana Iliescu would be 83, and Eliza Marie would be 17. The case of Iliescu is no longer the oldest recorded instance of childbirth, as Carmela Bousada, a Spanish woman, gave birth to twin sons at the age of 66 in 2006.

Keep the Music Going

My Mother Left Me a Recipe Box While My Siblings Got the Bakery—Then I Found Her Real Legacy

After Our Surrogate Gave Birth, My Mother Came to the Hospital to Congratulate Us – But When She Saw the Baby for the First Time, She Shouted, ‘You Can’t Keep This Baby!’

After a double shift at the hospital, I walked in and my 7-year-old daughter was missing. My mother said, “We voted. You don’t get a say,” while my sister cleared out my child’s room like it was a seizure. I didn’t scream. I stayed calm—and what I said next terrified them.

The day I became his wife, I told no one about the company my father spent 40 years building— and thank God I stayed quiet, because six weeks later, his mother arrived with an attorney… Her documents meant nothing.

A Timeless Masterpiece: Paul Simon’s Live Performance of The Boxer

I walked into my parents’ house with my newborn in my arms when my sister yanked her away. My parents didn’t blink. “Sign the house and the car over to your sister. Now.” I laughed weakly. “Please… I just gave birth.”