In 2007, a 60-year-old New Jersey woman named Frieda Birnbaum became the oldest American to give birth to twins. News of Josh and Jarrett's delivery made headlines around the world, and even Frieda's own family couldn't believe she had twins in her 60s.
Frieda, a psychologist, has been married to her husband for over 40 years. Though couple already had two sons and a daughter, Frieda wanted her youngest son to have siblings closer to his age, and she still felt the strong pangs of being a mother to newborn babies. When Frieda was in her late 50s, she and Ken tried to pursue in-vitro fertilization. However, doctors refused IVF because of her age.
In a controversial move, Frieda and Ken began treatments at a clinic in South Africa that specializes in older women, but Frieda has since admitted she "may have" told doctors she was younger than she was.
Read on to see what life is like for Frieda, now 68…
In 2007, a 60-year-old psychologist from New Jersey became the oldest American to give birth to twins. Frieda Birnbaum shocked her family when she and her husband, Ken, announced they were pregnant with two boys.
Frieda first became a mother at the age of 26. Four years later, she and Ken had their first and only daughter. At 53, Frieda and Ken had their third child.
But the Birnbaums didn't like the idea of being empty-nesters. They decided to pursue IVF when Frieda was in her late 50s, but doctors refused treatments because of her age.
At 59, Frieda and Ken found successful treatment at a clinic in South Africa, where doctors seemed less concerned about her age. However, Frieda admits she "may have" told doctors that she was younger than she was!
Despite the fact Frieda is now 68, she says she's more energetic now than ever before. Along with raising their teenage son, Frieda and Ken spend their days chasing after twin boys, Josh and Jarrett. "I am definitely more energetic, she told 20/20. "We have to redefine age, 'cause it's changed."
Frieda hopes her story helps remove the stigma attached to older women giving birth. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the average age of first-time mothers is rising, and women in their early 40s are seeing the highest birth rates for their age group since 1967.
