World's 'oldest baby' born 'like something out of a sci-fi movie'
A baby who was born from a decades-old embryo has finally been born, being described as the world’s ‘oldest baby.’
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: Carlos Duarte/Getty Images
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: Sally Anscombe/Getty Images
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.’
