Emma Gibson, baby born ‘aged 25’ sets new record for longest embryo to be born after being frozen in 1992.
Last month, Eastern Tennessee parents Tina and Benjamin welcomed their daughter, Emma Wren Gibson, into the world. While pregnancy stories are nothing new, the Gibsons’ story is a unique one.
Emma was conceived utilizing the longest known frozen human embryo. According to CNN, the embryo was originally frozen about 25 years ago on Oct. 14, 1992.
“Do you realize I’m only 25? This embryo and I could have been best friends,” Tina, now 26, told CNN. “I just wanted a baby. I don’t care if it’s a world record or not.”
The parents were caught off guard when they were told the age of the embryo that was used to conceive Emma by the National Embryo Donation Center.
Embryology lab director at the National Embryo Donation Center Carol Sommerfelt said the birth was exciting “considering how long the embryos had been frozen.” The previously oldest known frozen embryo that resulted in birth was 20 years old, CNN reported.
The Gibsons turned to the National Embryo Donation Center after Benjamin, 33, developed fertility issues as a result of cystic fibrosis, according to the BBC.
The organization provided a fertilized embryo which doctors referred to as “snow babies” because of their frozen state.
Emma came into the world healthy on Nov. 25, weighing six pounds, eight ounces and measuring 20 inches long.
