A mother who gave birth to twins at 60 shares her story of grief, survival and motherhood

A 76-year-old woman once recognized as China’s oldest mother of twins has returned to the limelight after a photo series documenting her life won an international award.

Sheng Hailin, from China’s Anhui province, has also built a large following online, attracting nearly one million followers through videos offering encouragement to parents coping with grief and loss, according to the South China Morning Post.

Her daughter’s death changed her life

Sheng’s only daughter, Tingting, and her husband died of carbon monoxide poisoning in 2009. Devastated by the tragedy and fearing that she would spend the rest of her life alone, Sheng decided to undergo IVF treatment the following year, despite being 60 years old.

The pregnancy came with serious health complications. She reportedly experienced severe swelling and repeated bleeding before finally giving birth to twins Zhizhi and Huihui in 2010.

At the time, Sheng became the oldest woman in China known to have given birth.

The birth of the twins gave Sheng and her husband a renewed sense of purpose, but also sparked widespread debate across China. Many questioned whether an elderly couple would be financially able to raise children and support them into adulthood.

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Before retiring, Sheng worked as a hospital director while her husband was a university professor. However, the costs of childcare, education and household support still created an enormous financial burden.

To provide stability for her daughters, Sheng traveled around China lecturing on nutrition and health. The income reportedly helped fund the girls’ schooling, as well as additional piano and dance lessons.

More setbacks after rebuilding her life

The family later faced another series of hardships.

In 2016, husband Sheng suffered a stroke. He later died of heart and lung failure in 2022 and was buried next to the couple’s eldest daughter, the outlet said.

A year later, Sheng allegedly lost more than two million yuan after allegedly being drawn into fraudulent investment schemes by a woman named Chen.

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Despite the setbacks, Sheng continued to push forward. She called herself a “courageous woman” and started live streaming at 73 to secure her daughters’ future.

From grieving mother to online inspiration

Now affectionately known as “Mother Sheng” on the Internet, she shares parenting advice, cooking content and lifestyle tips while selling home and health products through live streams.

Many followers see her as a source of hope for parents trying to rebuild their lives after loss and hardship.

Sheng also spoke openly about the age gap between herself and her daughters, saying that she tries to stay connected with younger generations by understanding modern trends and sharing her children’s interests.

“I will always be proud to be a mother,” Sheng once said, adding that she hopes to live to be 100 years old.

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According to The Beijing News, Sheng admitted that her journey would be difficult for most people to repeat because it required good health, financial stability and the ability to continue earning later in life.

Still, she hopes her story will encourage mothers facing difficult circumstances to continue living for themselves.

One social media user, inspired by her experience, wrote: “I lost my child in middle age, but later had another. I used to be confused, exhausted and in pain. But after watching Sheng’s story, I believed that I can start my life again.”