World's 'oldest baby' born 'like something out of a sci-fi movie'
Thaddeus Daniel Pierce was born on July 26, 2025 — but was developed from an embryo that was created in 1994, being placed in storage for over 30 years.
Thaddeus' parents, Lindsey and Tim 'adopted' the embryo from the woman who created it, with Tim being a toddler when the embryos, which included his son, were first created. BA baby who was born from a decades old embryo has finally been born, being described as the world's 'oldest baby.' Pic: ASTIER/BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
'The baby has a 30-year-old sister,' Thaddeus' mum said. 'It's like something out of a sci-fi movie.'
The embryo was donated by Linda Archerd, 62, who told MIT Technology Review that 'it's been pretty surreal' that a baby from a decades-old embryo that she created is now a baby.
Ms Archcerd had been trying to get pregnant for six years with her husband, when they decided to try and undergo the relatively new IVF treatment at the time. In May 1994, they created four embryos and transferred one to her uterus — which became a healthy baby girl, who is now 30 years old with a daughter of her own. The embryos were frozen over 30 years ago in 1994. Pic:The remaining three embryos were cryogenically frozen, but Ms Archerd admitted that she wanted to use them herself, but her husband felt differently, with them eventually divorcing and her winning custody of the embryos, which she called her 'three little hopes,' and keeping them in storage.
When she went through menopause, however, she considered her options, and after not wanting to discard them or donate them for research, she found out about embryo 'adoption' where she would meet with prospective couples who would take her embryos.
She found the Snowflakes program and with the Pierces also going through difficulty conceiving, they were eventually matched with Ms Archerd's preferences, and despite concerns that the method in which the embryos were stored may mean that they wouldn't be safe or viable, they were able to grow the embryo into a baby. The record was previously held by a couple in 2022. Pic:The record was previously held by Rachel and Philip Ridgeway, who had twins from 30-year-old embryos back in 2022, with Rejoice Fertility IVF Clinic's John Gordon — who also treated the Pierces — saying that the Ridgeways are 'such a lovely couple' and the twins are 'growing like weeds.'
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World's ‘oldest baby' born from an embryo stored more than 30 years ago
Thaddeus Daniel Pierce was born on July 26 having been developed from an embryo that was created in 1994 Lindsey and Tim Pierce, who live in Ohio, "adopted" the embryo from the biological mother The world's oldest baby has been born from an embryo that was stored more than 30 years ago. Thaddeus Daniel Pierce was born on July 26 having been developed from an embryo that was created in 1994. Lindsey and Tim Pierce, who live in Ohio, "adopted" the embryo from the biological mother, who had kept it frozen since 1994, according to the MIT Technology Review. The embryo that was created while the adoptive father was still a toddler was transferred into Lindsey's uterus in November 2024. Thaddeus who was born at the weekend, also has a biological sister who is now 30, with her own 10-year-old daughter. Thaddeus Daniel Pierce News in 90 Seconds, Friday August 1 The adoptive mother Lindsey Pierce Lindsey explained that she and Tim had not set out to 'break any records' but just wanted to have a baby. She told MIT Technology Review: 'We had a rough birth but we are both doing well now. "He is so chill. We are in awe that we have this precious baby.' 'The baby has a 30-year-old sister. It's like something out of a sci-fi movie.' Thaddeus came about after the biological mother and the adopting parents were linked up by a Christian "embryo adoption" agency. Nightlight Christian Adoptions took on the embryos and placed them with Lindsey and Tim Pierce. The embryo was donated by Linda Archerd (62) who told MIT Technology Review that 'it's been pretty surreal' that a baby from a decades-old embryo that she created is now a baby. Lindsey and Tim Pierce, who live in Ohio, "adopted" the embryo from the biological mother Ms Archcerd had been trying to get pregnant for six years with her husband, when they decided to try and undergo the relatively new IVF treatment at the time. In May 1994, they created four embryos and transferred one to her uterus — which became a healthy baby girl, the 30-year-old who has a daughter of her own. While Linda had hoped to have another baby, she and her husband ended up divorcing. Linda won custody of the remaining embryos and paid to keep them in storage. 'I always thought it was the right thing to do,' she said. Linda decided that while she didn't want to discard the embryos, or donate them to research, she also didn't want to donate them to a family anonymously, either. She then learned about embryo adoption Nightlight Christian Adoptions, which allowed Linda to choose the family she donated them to. Meanwhile, Lindsey and Tim had been trying to have a baby for several years and had seen many doctors in their fertility journey. The couple ended up signing up for the same fertility programme as Linda, called Snowflakes where they were matched with Linda. Lindsey later underwent the procedure at the Rejoice Fertility IVF clinic in Tennessee. The record was previously held by Rachel and Philip Ridgeway, who had twins from 30-year-old embryos back in 2022, with Rejoice Fertility IVF Clinic's John Gordon. Gordon who also treated the Pierces, said the Ridgeways are 'such a lovely couple' whose twins are 'growing like weeds'.
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