Worlds oldest mom gave birth to twin boys at 66 and was called selfish by her own family

Motherhood has no universal timeline. For some, it comes early in life, before their own adulthood has fully taken shape. For others, it arrives much later, after years of waiting, longing, or unexpected turns of fate. Every pregnancy is a remarkable act of endurance and love, yet society often passes judgment on when it believes the “right” time should be.

In 2006, Maria Carmen del Bousada de Lara, a retired shop worker from Cádiz, Spain, defied that notion entirely. At the age of 66, she gave birth to healthy twin boys, Christian and Pau, becoming the oldest mother in the world at the time. Her path to motherhood was anything but conventional. Determined to have children despite her age, Maria sold her home to afford IVF treatment at a clinic in California. To qualify for the procedure, she told doctors she was 55—eleven years younger than she truly was.

Maria believed fiercely in her right to decide when to start a family, no matter how others felt. But her choice was met with fierce criticism, even from her own relatives, some of whom called her decision selfish. She kept her pregnancy a secret at first, and when she finally revealed it, many thought she was joking.

Against all odds, she delivered her twins safely. But just six months later, her joy was pierced by devastating news—she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. “They’re still babies, so I haven’t told them,” she said. “They’re too young for these things.” As her health declined, her family stepped in to raise the boys.

Maria passed away in 2009, only a few short years after becoming a mother. Her brother Ricardo reflected on her decision: “I think she did this too late in life… but now they are here. We love these beautiful boys.” Neighbors in Cádiz, like Pilar Pinto, spoke warmly about the children’s wellbeing. “They are being well taken care of and are in great shape,” she said. “God didn’t let her enjoy her children very much. He should have given her more time.”

Until the end, Maria never wavered in her belief that becoming a mother was worth every risk, every sacrifice, and every disapproving word. Her story still stirs debate—was it selfish, or simply her right? Perhaps it was both. What cannot be questioned is that her choice brought two beloved sons into the world, children who are thriving today.

Maria’s legacy is a reminder that the “right” time for motherhood is deeply personal, that life is unpredictable, and that love—no matter when it comes—can leave an indelible mark.