Baby brings new joy to bereaved elderly couple

Liu Hongmei, 54, and her husband Jing Minghua dress their newborn baby in Xiangyang, Central China's Hubei province, June 27, 2016. [Photo/Provided to China Daily]

At the age of 54, Liu Hongmei gave birth to her second child thanks to in vitro fertilization, two years after losing her first son to a traffic accident.

Liu comes from Xiangyang, in Central China's Hubei province. She and Jing Minghua, her husband, lived together with their son until April 2014, when the 23-year-old was hit by a truck and killed.

"We felt like the sky had fallen in," said Jing. "We didn't feel like doing anything at all."

The couple took a long time to grieve, but were able to move past the tragedy with the help of their relatives and friends. Eventually, they made up their minds to have another child.

"Some relatives advised us to adopt, but it didn't work out," said Jing. "And we still wanted a child of our own."

Due to the difficulties associated with conceiving naturally over the age 50, the couple decided to try in vitro fertilization, after consulting with various doctors. They began their preparations early last year and after a few false starts, Liu became pregnant in October.

Many risks are associated with pregnancies in older women, including a greater possibility of miscarriage and other, more life-threatening complications. Liu was diagnosed with hypertension and placenta praevia, or a low-lying placenta, during routine tests — both of which had the potential to put mother and baby in harm's way.

The doctors tried to alleviate the situation, and Jing quit his job so he could attend his wife around the clock.

Liu finally delivered her baby by Caesarean section

"We gave her a rapid transfusion as well as all the medicine we have that accelerates contraction to stop the bleeding," said Huang Yuqin, a doctor at Xiangyang No 1 People's Hospital who led the team operating on Liu for 1 hour 40 minutes.

"The operation took more than twice the normal time, she's very lucky to both successfully give birth and still have her uterus."

Jing told China Daily his wife was recovering gradually, and his newborn son is healthy apart from some neonatal jaundice, which is expected to recede after a few days.

Although raising the child and applying for allowances is likely to be a challenge for the couple in the coming days, they are being assisted by local officials.

"They met the criteria for an allowance of up to 30,000 yuan ($4,500). We have advised the local departments to aid them in the application process," said Yue Yong, director of Hubei Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission's Family Development Department.

There are an estimated 1 million families nationwide in which the parents have lost their only child, a number which is increasing by 76,000 a year, according to earlier media reports.

But many couples so not try to conceive again, due to the low success rate associated with old age, as well as the low acceptance of assisted reproductive technology, according to Zhou Liangyi, secretary-general of Hubei Family Planning Association.

Zheng Jie, director of the Hubei Center for Reproductive Medicine at Hubei Maternal and Child Health Hospital, said Liu's success was a rarity, and experts usually don't recommend attempting to conceive after 35 years of age due to the high risk of complications.

"For elderly mothers who have lost their only child, the decision of whether to conceive through in vitro fertilization techniques should be taken carefully after considerations based on their willingness, physical state and financial condition," said Zheng.

"Once pregnant, elderly woman should be aware of the medical risks throughout the whole pregnancy, and monitor their physical changes regularly."

Liang Shuang contributed to this story.