8th February, 2024
A 62-year-old woman, Mrs Fummi Akinade, who was successfully delivered of a baby boy in a private hospital in Lagos after 31 years in marriage without a child has said all through the years she was childless, she had strong faith in God.
Akinade said she got married in 1992 but was unable to have a child despite undergoing series of gynecological treatments, including three previous IVF procedures that failed.
However, it was the fourth IVF that was successful.
“This is my fourth IVF attempt, but the others were not in this hospital,” Akinade said.
She added that her husband had been supportive, adding that both of them remained optimistic that God would give them a child.
“Even when I felt it was already too late to be possible, God in His infinite mercy made it possible for me in my lifetime. I return all glory to Him, Akinade whose baby was conceived through In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) said in an interview.
The baby was delivered on Tuesday via caesarian section at 37 weeks at the StrongTower Hospital and Advanced Fertility Centre, a Lagos-based private medical facility.
“When someone is looking for fruit of the womb, the person will be moving from one hospital or gynecologist to another, undergoing a series of gynecological investigations and treatments,” she said.
Akinade said that all through the years she was looking for a child, she had strong faith in God.
“Even when I felt it was already too late to be possible, God in His infinite mercy made it possible for me in my lifetime. I return all glory to Him.
“Two major factors that kept motivating me all along are my husband’s support and one particular book that I usually read,” Akinade said.
Akinade advised couples desiring children not to give up but trust in God while seeking the right medical attention.
She identified finance as a major challenge encountered while looking for fruit of the womb, saying that fertility treatments were expensive.
She called on governments to subsidize the cost of IVF and other fertility procedures for the sake of poor couples.
“Fertility treatment is quite expensive – whether IVF or whatever. A lot of couples out there are childless and do not have the financial capacity to go for them,” she said.
Dr Ayodele Ademola, a Consultant Gynecologist, who delivered the baby, said that a woman above 62 years could still conceive through IVF or other innovative methods of assisted pregnancy.
Ademola, also the Medical Director of the hospital, said that many couples without children could still have, with the right medical care.
According to him, the major challenges most people have with IVF are the financial involvement and the fear that it can fail.
“Even if the IVF fails, there are other innovative methods of assisted pregnancy to offer, including surrogacy – that’s bringing another person to carry the pregnancy in situations where the woman is unable to carry it.
“Aside the surrogacy approach, there are other advanced methods.
“Our motive is to achieve that desired result and ensure that the woman is happy, satisfied and gets value for the money spent.
“Regarding the controversy about whether old women can conceive, there are advanced innovative methods through which they can be helped to have babies,” Ademola said.
According to Ademola, StrongTower Hospital started carrying out IVF procedure since 2014 and has recorded successful stories.
(NAN)