Mum Who Gave Birth At 61 Years Old Reveals How People Treated Her Like A Criminal For Her Choice To Fall Pregnant

A mother who gave birth at 61 years old has spoken about her heartache after people criticised her and treated her like a criminal for her decision to fall pregnant at her age.

Shammi Pal gave birth to her daughter, Angel, in September 2016, but has since faced intense criticism from people who treated her like a criminal because of her choice.

“I’ve been condemned and looked at as the biggest mistake I have ever done. What have I done to deserve this treatment? I’ve only become a mum like everybody else does,” she told the ABC.

“They thought you could be sick in the head to be having a baby at this age, or really silly, or this could be the biggest crime you have ever done to have a baby at this age.”

Even medical staff at Melbourne’s Mercy Hospital where she gave birth to Angel on September 12 told her she was too old.

So, after she gave birth, Ms Pal said she was afraid that her baby would be taken away from her as medical staff and social workers went in and out of her room before the baby was given to her.

The authorities were also ensuring that Ms Pal and her husband, Lucas Arora, were capable of caring for their child.

However, Mercy Hospital told 7.30 that it cannot comment on Ms Pal’s case due to privacy laws.

The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services said the age of the mother was not a factor, but child protection practitioners were obliged to respond to all reports of welfare concerns.

Ms Pal and Mr Arora tried to conceive with the help of IVF programs in Australia, but when Ms Pal turned 52, she was too old to be a candidate, so the couple turned to a fertility specialist in India, where, through the help of Dr Mehul Damani, a donor egg and sperm, Ms Pal fell pregnant.

The couple then went back to Australia where they prepared for the child’s birth.

Despite criticisms, Ms Pal said they were as prepared as any other parents-to-be. She said she was physically fit, healthy, educated, and financially and mentally stable.

Ms Pal said she still could not believe how people reacted to her pregnancy, while in many other countries, including India, she would have been given a bravery award.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk and 7:30