A woman's giving birth to triplets at age 54 without the aid of fertility drugs may have been an amazing feat, but it sent shudders through the hearts of many of the nation's 50 million baby boomers. Many women approaching age 50 have grown comfortable in the knowledge that they no longer have to fear accidental pregnancy. Some women many of whom have children already grown are experiencing hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. Then, in January, along comes Yakima, Wash., grandmother Arcelia Garcia and her triplets.
Countless women read the story with mouths agape.
I dearly enjoy my kids, but I'm on the downhill side of my life. No, say experts such as Dr. Ted Nagel, director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at the University of Minnesota . It's just a rare phenomenon. This case is one of reproduction at the extremes of life. It's pretty amazing, though.