Oldest Embryo Baby Born After 30 Years
In an intriguing twist of medical history, a baby has been born in Ohio from an embryo frozen thirty years ago and he is the “oldest” baby ever born by embryo age.
Thaddeus Daniel Pierce was born on July 26 to Lindsey and Tim Pierce when the two had adopted a cryopreserved embryo that was initially created in 1994. The embryo was kept in deep freeze for 30 years before it was eventually transferred into Lindsey’s womb a scientific first that has also raised emotions, ethics, and wonder.
Embryo Donation and Family Journey
The embryo initially belonged to Linda Archerd, 62 now, who, along with her then-husband, underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) back in the early 1990s when she was having trouble getting pregnant. Four embryos were produced, one of which resulted in the birth of her daughter a 30-year-old woman today with a child of her own. The other three were frozen and went unused for decades.
Following her divorce, custody of the embryos was awarded to Archerd, who ultimately decided to pursue embryo donation, a procedure commonly known as “embryo adoption.” Unlike sperm or egg donation, embryo adoption has both parties more directly involved in the decision. Archerd had one stipulation that the couple who adopted must be white, Christian, and married.
That’s where the Pierces came in. The pair weren’t record-breakers, they claim they just wanted to expand their family. “We just wanted to have a baby,” Lindsey explained to MIT Technology Review.
Thaddeus’ arrival wasn’t smooth sailing. “We had a tough birth, but we’re fine now,” Lindsey said. “He is so relaxed. We’re amazed that we have this little baby.”
Archerd was also touched. As soon as she looked at pictures of Thaddeus, she saw an immediate resemblance to her daughter as an infant. “They’re siblings no doubt about it,” she said.
The transfer was performed by Dr. John Gordon, a reproductive endocrinologist and a devoted Reformed Presbyterian. He’s determined to decrease the number of embryos idly waiting in storage. “Each embryo should have an opportunity for life,” Gordon said. “The only embryo that will never be a baby is the one that never gets the chance.”
IVF and Embryo Adoption on the Rise
The wider IVF trend is growing rapidly. In the UK, 1 in 32 babies is born using IVF, while in the US, approximately 2% of births are the result of it. Increased older parenthood and decreased fertility are compelling families to turn to embryo adoption and tales like Thaddeus’ illustrate just how far reproductive medicine has progressed.
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