Typically, when we think of a woman giving birth, we picture some at the very least under the age of 40. In fact, not so long ago, giving birth over the age of 35, and even 30, was almost unheard of. This woman defied the norm and gave birth at 57 years old. This is her story. (1)
Woman Gives Birth At 57
On March 20, 2021, Barbara Higgins gave birth to her son Jack. He entered the world healthy, weighing 5 pounds and 13 ounces. As a woman giving birth at 57 years old, she is now one of the oldest women in America to have given birth. (1)
“The whole thing was a bit surreal, quite honestly,” Barbara said. (1)
“We beat the odds,” her husband, Kenny Banzhoff, said on TODAY. “I’m so proud of her.” (1)
Inching ever closer to silver-sixty, you’d think that pregnancy would be more challenging than for someone half her age. Barbara said for her, it was surprisingly easier.
“In many ways, I think it’s easier,” she said. “I don’t have such big expectations. I’m not concerned about external judgments and factors. It’s just us and Jack and our day-to-day life. So far, so good.” (1)
Barbara is a dedicated runner and high school track coach. She’s been active and interested in fitness for her entire life. Already fit going into pregnancy, she didn’t let it stop her. She continued to work out under her doctor’s close eye and was even lifting weights the day she went into labor. Her doctor, Dr. Ashish Chaudhari from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, said that, like with any older pregnancy, they did extra blood work, ultrasounds, and check-ups to ensure a healthy, smooth pregnancy. (1)
The couple used in-vitro fertilization to become pregnant. Lucky for them, it went really well, and there were no issues at all. Barbara says that she knows that this process isn’t so simple for all women. (1)
Why They Chose To Have Another Child
The couple’s decision to have another child came out of a very challenging time in their life. Already with two daughters, they lost their younger daughter in 2016 at just 13-years old to complications from an undiagnosed brain tumor. After that tragedy, Barbara kept having dreams about having another child. (2)
“It began shortly after the death of my daughter Molly, so my immediate reaction is I’m losing my mind, I’m sad, traumatized and all,” she said. “But the dream was pretty consistent, and it was just about the process of having a baby, that I’m supposed to do this,” she said. (1)
When she told her husband, he was taken aback at first, but then quickly got on board. He supported her every step of the way and is overjoyed to have another child in the house. (2)
Overcoming Judgment
Of course, people were shocked when they found out that Barbara was pregnant. They didn’t really tell anyone until she was 20 weeks along, knowing how people were likely to take the news. Naturally, there has been a hefty dose of judgment. Many people think that they are too old to have a baby and that it is unfair to their son because they likely won’t be around as long for his life as parents usually are. (1)
“Nobody can give birth to a baby and know with a certainty that they will see that baby grow up,” Barbara says in response. “Who knows how I’ll be in 10 years, but who knows how you’ll be in 10 years? That isn’t something that anyone can predict, and why should Jack not get to be alive just because I’m old?” (2)
Thankfully for Barbara and her husband, they don’t let the weight of other people’s judgment and opinions bring them down. They have simply shrugged them off and are choosing instead to enjoy their new baby boy and the happiness he has brought to their family.
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