92-Year-Old Woman Pregnant: Strange but True

While most pregnancies follow a typical course, there are rare instances where the body reacts in unexpected ways. One such rare occurrence is a condition called Lithopedion, affectionately known as a "stone baby."

According to a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Eboni January, MD, FACOG, this occurs when a pregnancy takes an unexpected turn: a fetus grows outside the womb and dies within the mother's abdomen. But is too large for the body to absorb naturally. In response, the body encases the fetal remains in a calcified shell, creating a stone-like formation that remains in the body.

Interested in learning more about how this rare condition develops and who is most affected by it? Let's explore the details.

The concept of a "stone baby" or Lithopedion

Lithopedion is an extremely rare condition, with fewer than 300 documented cases in medical literature, as stated by January. She explains that Lithopedion can occur at any reproductive age but is more commonly seen in women over the age of 35.

"It is typically associated with abdominal pregnancies that go undiagnosed or untreated," she says. "Women who have limited access to prenatal care or live in regions with fewer medical resources also may be more susceptible."

Symptoms of Lithopedion are usually not prominent, leading to the condition going unnoticed for years. However, Dr. January mentions that some women may experience chronic abdominal pain, feel a palpable mass in the abdomen or encounter digestive issues. "Typically, lithopedion is incidentally discovered during imaging tests conducted for other medical conditions," she adds.

The case of the 92-year-old woman pregnant

Surprisingly, calcified fetuses have been documented throughout history. For example, a 2014 case report published in the SpringerPlus journal states that the earliest case was in France in the year 1582.

More recently, in 2015, CNN reported that a 92-year-old South American woman named Estela Melendez discovered she had been carrying a hardened fetus for over 60 years after an X-ray revealed the calcified remains. Despite her age and health issues, the fetus posed no risk to her health.

Medical aspects of pregnancy in older women

Dr. January explains that Lithopedion, while unusual, is not typically associated with advanced pregnancies inside the uterus. Instead, this rare condition is linked to abdominal pregnancies, where the fertilized egg attaches outside the womb. "Abdominal pregnancies are uncommon," she notes, "but they need immediate medical care to avoid complications like lithopedion."

Mummified fetus in womb

According to January, a mummified fetus should not be mistaken for a lithopedion. "A mummified fetus, or fetus papyraceus, typically occurs in twin pregnancies where one fetus dies and is compressed by the surviving twin, resulting in a flattened, dried-out fetus," she explains. "Lithopedion, on the other hand, involves the calcification of a fetus outside the uterus, where the body encases the dead fetus in calcium to prevent infection."

Social and ethical considerations

While it's true that advanced maternal age (pregnancies in women over 35) face slightly higher risks, Lithopedion (stone baby) is extremely rare and shouldn't deter you from pursuing motherhood in your late 30s or early 40s. According to January, with proper care and medical observation, women in this age group can still have healthy pregnancies without an increased risk of Lithopedion.

"Women over 35 can have healthy pregnancies without an increased risk of developing lithopedion," she explains. "Proper prenatal care, regular check-ups and early detection of complications are key to ensuring a healthy pregnancy."

Experts: 

• Dr. Eboni January, MD, FACOG, a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist