Becoming a mother is an extraordinary and deeply personal journey—one as ancient as humanity itself.
Motherhood can arrive unexpectedly or be the culmination of years of hope and waiting. No matter how it happens, one thing remains true: bringing a child into the world is always a blessing.
For most of us, the timing of parenthood is unpredictable. While we can take steps to make it happen if it’s something we desire, life itself is full of uncertainties.
Some women become mothers at a young age, welcoming new life in their teens, while others experience pregnancy much later. Unfortunately, some face obstacles that prevent them from having children of their own.
There is no “right” or “wrong” way to embark on the journey of motherhood. Every baby deserves to be celebrated, and every mother should be honored for the incredible transformation her body undergoes to bring new life into the world.
However, some women, like Maria Carmen del Bousada from Cádiz, Spain, have faced criticism—even backlash—for their choices regarding when and how to have children.
Maria del Carmen Bousada: The World’s Oldest Mother
In 2006, Maria surprised her family with unexpected news—she was pregnant with twins. The reason for their shock? She was 66 years old.
Reports suggest that Maria, a retired store worker, sold her home to afford IVF treatment in California. To qualify for the procedure, she allegedly misled doctors, claiming to be 55.
Maria believed that every person should have the freedom to decide when to start a family, rather than conforming to societal pressures or expectations.
As she told The Guardian:
“Sometimes, life puts you in difficult situations, and perhaps things could have been done differently. But this was the only way to achieve what I had always dreamed of.”
Not everyone supported her decision. Her own relatives were among her harshest critics, calling her selfish. She even admitted to hiding her pregnancy for a while, as her family initially thought she was joking.
In spite of the controversy, Maria gave birth to healthy twin boys, Christian and Pau, becoming the oldest mother in recorded history.
A Tragic Turn
Sadly, just six months after giving birth, Maria was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
“They’re still babies, so I haven’t told them,” she said at the time. “They’re too young to understand.”
As her health declined, her family had to step in to help raise her sons. Maria passed away in 2009, only getting a few short years with them.
Her brother Ricardo reflected on her decision, saying:
“I think she did this too late in life… but now that the boys are here, we love them dearly.”
A resident of Cádiz, Pilar Pinto, later shared that Christian and Pau are doing well and are being taken care of.
“I see them around town often. They are in great shape,” he said. “God didn’t give her much time to enjoy them. She should have had longer.”
Despite the challenges and controversy, Maria stood by her choice until the end.
What do you think about her decision to have children later in life? Should age be a deciding factor in motherhood? Share your thoughts in the comments on Facebook.