World’s Oldest Baby Born from Embryo Frozen Since 1994
Baby Thaddeus born in Ohio from a 30-year-old embryo, marking a new milestone in IVF and embryo adoption history.
- Baby born in Ohio from an embryo frozen in 1994—over 30 years ago
- Adoptive parents used donated embryo through a faith-based IVF clinic
- Baby shares strong resemblance with biological sibling born in 1994
In an extraordinary medical milestone, a baby has been born from an embryo frozen more than three decades ago—making him the world’s “oldest baby” by time spent in cryopreservation.
Thaddeus Daniel Pierce was born on July 26, 2025, in Ohio to Lindsey and Tim Pierce, who adopted the embryo from Linda Archerd, a 62-year-old woman who originally had it frozen in 1994 after undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Back in the early ’90s, Archerd and her then-husband turned to IVF to overcome fertility challenges. Four embryos were created—one of which led to the birth of her daughter, now 30 years old and a mother herself. The remaining embryos were cryopreserved and stored for future use.
After her divorce, Archerd was granted custody of the frozen embryos. Years later, she discovered the concept of embryo “adoption”—a form of embryo donation where both donor and recipient are involved in the decision-making. Archerd chose the Pierces, a white Christian married couple, to receive the embryo based on her personal preferences.
Lindsey Pierce shared their amazement with MIT Technology Review, saying, “We didn’t go into it thinking we would break any records. We just wanted to have a baby.” Despite a difficult delivery, she said both mother and baby are doing well, describing Thaddeus as “so chill.”
Archerd expressed joy upon seeing the newborn, noting his striking resemblance to her daughter as a baby. “They are clearly siblings,” she said after comparing old photos.
The embryo transfer was performed by Dr. John Gordon, a reproductive endocrinologist and Reformed Presbyterian who advocates for giving frozen embryos a chance at life. “The only embryo that can’t become a baby is the one never transferred,” he said.
This story comes at a time when IVF is increasingly common. In the UK, IVF births rose from 1.3% in 2000 to 3.1% in 2023, and in the US, about 2% of babies are born through IVF. Among UK women aged 40–44, 11% of births now result from IVF.
Thaddeus’s birth serves as a remarkable testament to science, faith, and the evolving journey of fertility treatment.
