Post Menopausal Births

Post-Menopausal Woman Gives Birth To Baby Girl

Family Calls Daniela Garcia's Birth A 'Miracle'

Some are calling it a miracle baby.

After nearly two decades of trying to conceive, a 52-year-old Indiana woman is finally a mother.

A precious baby girl is the product of 19 years of trying to conceive and a labor of love for 52-year-old Rita Garcia and her husband, Rudy.

"This is amazing. It's like something out of a script in a movie or something," Rudy said.

Rita's niece donated eggs, allowing the couple to undergo in-vitro fertilization in Panama, Rita's homeland. It has been a process that yielded a healthy daughter for Rita.

Rita says her niece gave her the greatest gift.

"Actually having your niece because nobody does that to you. Nobody," Garcia said.

Doctors at St. Margaret Mercy say Garcia is probably the oldest first-time mom to give birth in Northwest Indiana. Her case is even made more unique by the fact that she got pregnant after menopause.

"It's rare," said obstetrician Dr. Karl Schwartz.

Schwartz says the pregnancy was not without its problems.

"She developed gestational diabetes, but it was diet-controlled. She monitored her sugars just like she was supposed to. Basically, everything we asked her to do, she followed to the letter. And that helped big time," Schwartz said.

Another help was a special device that the doctor inserted to elevate Rita's cervix, giving her a better chance to deliver full-term.

The family says this victory serves to encourage other parents fighting infertility.

"Don't give up. I'm telling you. Never give up. Age has nothing do to with this. Miracles happen," Rita said.

The couple says they fought the debate over whether post-menopausal women should conceive because they say sometimes life without parenthood would have been incomplete.

New dad Rudy Garcia works in military research for the U.S. Army in Harvey, Ill.

Mom does not work and will devote all her newfound energy to Daniela.