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Juror Dismissed in Scott Peterson Murder Trial; News Conference with Woman Who Gave Birth to Twins at Age 56

Aired November 10, 2004 - 10:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right, about bottom of the hour now. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Daryn Kagan. Let's take a look at what's happening now in the news.

First, to Paris -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is gravely ill, and the cleric has rushed to his bedside for what's being described as the final phase of his life. Senior Palestinian sources tell CNN that plans are being made for his funeral and burial possibly by the end of the week.

U.S. forces say they have seized a number of key buildings in the insurgent stronghold of Falluja. They also claimed control of bridges and mosques, but not without losses -- 11 U.S. troops and two Iraqi soldiers have been killed.

The U.S. Military is due to hold a military briefing at the top of the hour. You'll see that live right here on CNN.

Less than an hour ago, we received word that the United Nations and France have started mass evacuations from the African nation Ivory Coast. About 250 U.N. staffers and foreign nationals were aboard that first flight. Violence and looting in the country has escalated since the Saturday exchange between the government and French forces monitoring a cease-fire there.

And back here in the U.S., a briefing on the status of the 9/11 Intelligence Reform Bill began in Washington. That was about 30 minutes ago. Recommendation from the 9/11 Commission are still in Congress, and officials urging intelligence reform want passage of a bipartisan law as soon as possible.

WHITFIELD: Out west now, jurors in the Scott Peterson murder trial return to work today and, under judge's orders, will, quote, "start all over again." The new beginning comes with a new face -- an alternate juror, who is replacing the woman dismissed yesterday.

CNN's Rusty Dornin is following the proceedings on this sixth day of deliberations -- Rusty?

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, yes, it's back to the drawing board for this jury after the second juror in this trial was dismissed yesterday. Juror number seven, who was an electric -- works for an electric company as an auditor, was dismissed after doing some undisclosed, independent research. She's in her 40s or 50s. Sources tell CNN that the jurors were interviewed by the judge one by one, and what did come out of those interviews was also that she is not one of the jurors who was involved in that near impasse this week, but that there is a battle going on in that jury room, and that it is very contentious.

This juror is being replaced by an alternate, a woman in her late 20s, early 30s. She has four children. She told the court during the jury selection that she has nine tattoos, she's considered a very colorful character who changes her hair color very often. Legal analysts here say she shows a streak of independence that's sometimes not ideal for the prosecution.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIM HAMMER, LEGAL ANALYST: I want people who don't stand out. I want people who just blend in with the crowd or, put another way, 11 sheep and one leader. And this woman looks like a very individual kind of a person, which I like as a person, but as a prosecutor, you don't want people who stand out and change their hair color every couple of days.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DORNIN: Now, the jury consultants who assisted both sides in this case said the juror that was dismissed, it was right down the middle. They didn't -- either side didn't know which way she was going to go. Sources do tell CNN that this new juror is making the defense fairly happy. They think she is empathetic to their side.

Now, jurors began deliberating yesterday afternoon, presumably bringing her up-to-date for about two-and-a-half hours. They'll deliberate today, but tomorrow is a day off because it's Veteran's Day. Then they'll be back on Friday -- Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: All right. Rusty Dornin, thanks so much.

Well, three days before turning 57-years-old, Aleta St. James welcomed two more people to the celebration. She delivered a healthy son and daughter by Caesarean section yesterday. St. James, who helped her brother Curtis Sliwa found the Guardian Angels in the 1970s, says age is a matter of mind.

Yet, science played a big part. She became pregnant through in vitro fertilization with an egg donated by a younger woman.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. JAMIE GRIFO, NYU MEDICAL CENTER: If you're 50 and you want to do something, go for it. Because it's over when it's over.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Aleta St. James is at an age when many people are celebrating grandchildren, and we do expect to hear from her any moment. She's holding a news conference. She's going to bring out the babies. Her brother, Curtis Sliwa, is supposed to be there. Quite the family.

WHITFIELD: And other family members.

KAGAN: Exactly. While we're waiting for that to happen, let's bring in Dr. Donna Session. She's a reproductive endocrinologist and a fertility specialist who helps women get pregnant.

We hear this -- we hear a 56, 57-year-old woman having twins. How is it possible?

DR. DONNA SESSION, REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGIST: I think that it's relatively unlikely to happen with someone's own eggs. However, chances of pregnancy with using a donor's eggs remain essentially the same over age. And so, even though there's a decline in women in their own age, there isn't any change so that the uterus is able to carry a pregnancy.

KAGAN: But isn't the argument by having a -- in the case of Aleta St. James, a younger egg that perhaps what has been reduced is the risk of any kind of abnormalities with the baby?

SESSION: The chances of abnormalities with the child are often if you're referring to things like genetic normalities...

KAGAN: Any chromosomal...

SESSION: ... chromosomal abnormalities are usually based on the age of the donor as opposed to the woman carrying the pregnancy. The woman carrying the pregnancy does have increased risk based on age, including increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure during the pregnancy, increased chance of having a C-section, probably mostly due to those medical risks in pregnancy.

KAGAN: This isn't the only one we've heard in the news lately having -- older age. Elizabeth Edwards, whose husband was just running for vice president, she had two children at 48 and 50. Geena Davis recently had children well into her 40s. Madonna had babies in her 40s.

Does this send a wrong message to women out there, though? Yeah, put it off, wait well until your 40s, no problem, you can go ahead and kick out a baby?

SESSION: I think that it's important for people to still realize that your best chance of pregnancy is going to be before the age 33, using your own eggs. But it is still feasible to have a pregnancy later on.

WHITFIELD: And does it not seem that, particularly when you're dealing with in vitro fertilization, the chances of having multiples seems to increase, as well. And so, you couple that along with a mother who is likely to be over 35 and that's considered, you know, an at-risk pregnancy, do you see increased dangers?

SESSION: There are increased risks with multiple pregnancy. I think the trend recently has been to reduce the number of embryos that are transferred to the uterus to reduce that risk. I think a lot of it is driven by patients' choice, because it's a lot to go through an in vitro cycle. It's costly. It's time consuming. So, many patients actually drive the number of embryos transferred.

KAGAN: Take us inside your office for a moment. A woman in her mid-40s, early 40s shows up and says, "I want to get pregnant." What is the "let's get to reality" talk that you have with her?

SESSION: I think that if she's going to use her own eggs, the reality talk is about increased chance of chromosomal abnormalities, genetic abnormalities...

KAGAN: Like Down's syndrome.

SESSION: Increased risk of miscarriage. Women under 35 have about a 15 percent chance of miscarriage, whereas women over 40 have about a 40 to 50 percent chance of miscarriage.

KAGAN: For each pregnancy?

SESSION: Correct. And chance of miscarriage is fairly high. And so, these -- although those numbers are based on people with infertility, that's about what we see. So, chance of miscarriage is, again, most likely due to the chromosomal abnormalities, the genetics, and it's high in women over 40 who use their own eggs.

WHITFIELD: So, are you concerned or are you encouraged that a lot of women who are going to see and hear from Aleta St. James and feel like, "Well, wait a minute, you know, she's 56. There's hope for me?"

SESSION: I think that it's going to be important to counsel those patients about the risks that they would have in pregnancy, and that they would make an informed choice.

KAGAN: All about choice. Dr. Session, thank you. We're going to have you stick around and listen to the news conference with us. Not surprising, two babies, they're running behind. That'll happen. Thank you Dr. Donna Session.

Once again, we are standing by when that news conference happens from New York with the babies and the 56, 57-year-old mother, you'll see it live right here on CNN.

Right now, a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET UPDATE)

WHITFIELD: In the meantime, still in Manhattan, we're still waiting for the press conference to get under way out of Mt. Sinai Hospital, where we're hoping to hear from the doctors, as well as 56- year-old Aleta St. James, to talk about her very exciting moment of birthing twins.

KAGAN: We want to see the babies, too.

WHITFIELD: Absolutely.

KAGAN: I mean, Fred, you know what it's like, it's like the mom's cool, but it's all about the baby.

WHITFIELD: You want to see the babies.

And apparently they'll be coming out, too, in their little incubator, so we're looking forward to that. But when that happens, we'll be bringing that to you live.

For now, we're going to take a short break, though.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: As promised, here we go. Let's go to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where here you're seeing Aleta St. James, new mom, at 56, who just birthed twins. She's been rolled into position there, and a press conference will get under way, along with her parents, Francesca, as well as Chester Sliwa (ph), and she is the sister of the founder...

KAGAN: Just to make it more interesting.

(CROSSTALK)

KAGAN: You have a 56-year-old, you have twins.

WHITFIELD: That's not enough.

KAGAN: You have egg donation, but you also have Curtis Sliwa as your brother.

WHITFIELD: That's right, and she's a motivational speaker, and she's, just in preliminary interviews, before she actually birthed her twins, has been very outspoken about being so excited about this procedure, and the success of it, and now, here just a day before her 57th birthday, she's going to be speaking about birthing her twins...

KAGAN: She does look good.

WHITFIELD: ... by way of in vitro fertilization.

KAGAN: She does looks good. And as she gets into position, we also with us Dr. Donna Session from Emory University.

Doctor, what are you going to listen in to hear what this new mom has to say?

DR. DONNA SESSION, EMORY UNIV.: I think one of the things to listen to is how she did with her twins, because one of the concerns you have is about risks with multiple pregnancy.

KAGAN: And she had that happen. Looks like they're about ready to go. WHITFIELD: And very often, Dr. Session...

KAGAN: There are the babies.

WHITFIELD: There they are. Maybe that's Francesca, maybe that's Gian. We're not really sure right now.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: They blue, hey, there you go.

KAGAN: What's wrong, Fred, you got to get on top of these things.

WHITFIELD: I've got to get with the program here.

(CROSSTALK)

KAGAN: The blue means boy.

And then we're waiting for the little pink blanket.

WHITFIELD: And I guess that's Gian.

KAGAN: I think they're pronouncing it John, even though, I mean, unusual spelling G-I-A-N.

WHITFIELD:: John? OK, all right, well, I'll go for that then, at five pounds, three ounces.

KAGAN: And then the baby girl, Francesca, she came in at 5 pounds, 12 ounces.

WHITFIELD: How sweet.

This all taking place at Mt. Sinai Hospital. You see the big banners in the background.

KAGAN: Proud mom. She can hold both of them while she does this?

WHITFIELD: And apparently Aleta named of course, Francesca, the daughter, after her mom, whose name is Francesca, and her dad, Chester, is there as well.

KAGAN: And then Gian, the boy, we're not really sure who he's named after.

Let's bring Dr. Session in here -- so you're interested in the idea that, well, as can happen with in vitro, you have a higher risk of multiples.

KAGAN: Oh, see you're right, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Hey, look at this, see, girls wear blue.

ALETA ST. JAMES, MOTHER: They're so -- they're just so beautiful, these babies.

QUESTION: Are you ready?

ST. JAMES: Yep.

WHITFIELD: I think she's got them mixed up.

KAGAN: Anyway, she's putting there...

ST. JAMES: This is Gian.

WHITFIELD: Oh no, OK there you go.

ST. JAMES: And Gian means "miracle for God," and Francesca means "one who loves freedom," so there you are.

Sure.

QUESTION: Can we get the family come in and sit next to Aleta?

QUESTION: What does "Gian" mean.

ST. JAMES: Miracle for God.

QUESTION: What does "Francesca" means?

ST. JAMES: One who loves freedom.

QUESTION: Can you put the baby on the left up a little?

WHITFIELD: Well, Dr. Session, she seems awfully comfortable and relaxed a day after a cesarean section as well.

ST. JAMES: You know what? I feel terrific, I really do. I feel very excited, and part of it is almost surrealistic, it doesn't feel real, and part of it is, like, so emotional. Because -- oh, goodness. It's just something that I really wanted. And just to look at these children, and they're so beautiful. And they're so good. I mean, it's just amazing to me. I've done so many things in my life, and helped so many people manifest their dreams, that holding these children is just the most incredible thing that I've ever done in my life, and the best gift that God could have ever given to me.

And even though I'm at a certain age, and there are a lot of people that might think that this is selfish or this is crazy or whatever, I'm a little bit crazy. I've always been that way. I've never lived in the box. And I just say that, if you have a dream and you want to accomplish it, if you really put your mind to it and don't listen to other people's negativity, or limitation, you can really manifest the most incredible things. And then you have no regrets in your life in terms of what I should have done or shouldn't have done.

And this wasn't a decision that I just made. I mean, I was in very good physical condition. I do emotional healing work and life coach work, and my spiritual energy, and my mental energy and my emotional energy is very balanced, and I knew I could give extraordinary things to these children, and it's taken me all these years to really get to that level, and I said, OK, now I've done everything I wanted to do, and now I want to really give to children, in a most loving, amazing way that I know I can, and that was the reason why I embarked upon following this dream. And when that...

QUESTION: It's hard enough taking care of one, but two, you know, going it alone, how much help?

ST. JAMES: I have the most extraordinary support group, amazing. I had 75 women at my shower. I have baby bouncers, and swings and people signed up to do everything, and you know, financially I'm able to handle putting enough money behind care for the babies, and somebody told me -- OK, this was a saying from Columbia, a friend of mine said, "Babies come with a loaf of bread under their arms," which means that they provide a lot of ways in which they get taken care of. If you just have faith and believe, and aren't afraid and don't limit yourself.

But already, I mean these two miracles came in, and look at all of the love and support around. I mean, so many people are cheering me on. I never expected any of this, but I guess, it gives them hope and inspiration about what they can do in their lives, and it doesn't have to be having a baby -- it can be remarrying, it could be a relationship, it could be to create a project. So it's not over when you're 50. I believe that I'm winding up. I'm not going to wind down, and this is, like, the most amazing time of my entire life, and I see myself being young, and vital into my 70s, into my 80s.

WHITFIELD: Not over at 50, Aleta St. James says, instead, for her, it's just the beginning, at 56, the day before her 57th birthday, having birth to two there in her arms, Gian, which means "miracles from God," she said, and Francesca, "one who loves freedom."

And Dr. Donna Session, a reproductive endocrinologist has decided to stick around with us at Emory University here in Atlanta to talk a little bit more about this.

KAGAN: You know, St. James said that as long as you have a dream, as long as you don't let people be negative and tell you you can't go after something you should go for it. It's worked out for her. Not to pour water on that, but what's the reality check for women who might come to you and say, let's make a baby?

SESSION: Well, I think there's a reluctancy to have a set guideline for what age there be a cutoff for to people achieving a pregnancy, because you may have a patient who's a younger patient who has multiple medical problems where it wouldn't be a good candidate to have a pregnancy, would have significant risks, where you might have an older patient, where she mentions she's fairly healthy, where she might not have significant risks during the pregnancy.

KAGAN: Each case is individual.

Dr. Sessions, thank you, thank you so much.

WHITFIELD: We're going to take a short break, and we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: We've got some breaking news coming out of Iraq. This from near Fallujah. It's from the commander of the Iraqi forces there. He says that they have found what they're calling hostage slaughterhouses in Falluja. This is where they say foreign captives were held and killed. They found a number of the black clothing used -- that the captors would use to identify themselves, hundreds of CDs and records with names of hostages.

What's not clear is if what was in the hostage records, if they include any of the names of the nine people still in captivity, and that would include, most notably, Margaret Hassan, the French aide worker, who -- actually, the British aide worker who works with CARE International. So we're going to have much more on these hostage slaughterhouses that have been discovered in part of Falluja, near Falluja. That is just ahead.

We're expecting this news conference to happen actually from Falluja in just a few minutes with military commanders, and you'll see that live right here on CNN.

WHITFIELD: And our Karl Penhaul is near Falluja, and he's confirmed this report of these hostage slaughterhouses now, so we know for certain from officials that he's in contact with that is indeed the case.

KAGAN: He has confirmed those reports. Much more ahead from Karl Penhaul, from our Jane Arraf, and once again, that news conference.

We're going to take a break, and our next hour begins in just a couple of minutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired November 10, 2004 - 10:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right, about bottom of the hour now. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Daryn Kagan. Let's take a look at what's happening now in the news.

First, to Paris -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is gravely ill, and the cleric has rushed to his bedside for what's being described as the final phase of his life. Senior Palestinian sources tell CNN that plans are being made for his funeral and burial possibly by the end of the week.

U.S. forces say they have seized a number of key buildings in the insurgent stronghold of Falluja. They also claimed control of bridges and mosques, but not without losses -- 11 U.S. troops and two Iraqi soldiers have been killed.

The U.S. Military is due to hold a military briefing at the top of the hour. You'll see that live right here on CNN.

Less than an hour ago, we received word that the United Nations and France have started mass evacuations from the African nation Ivory Coast. About 250 U.N. staffers and foreign nationals were aboard that first flight. Violence and looting in the country has escalated since the Saturday exchange between the government and French forces monitoring a cease-fire there.

And back here in the U.S., a briefing on the status of the 9/11 Intelligence Reform Bill began in Washington. That was about 30 minutes ago. Recommendation from the 9/11 Commission are still in Congress, and officials urging intelligence reform want passage of a bipartisan law as soon as possible.

WHITFIELD: Out west now, jurors in the Scott Peterson murder trial return to work today and, under judge's orders, will, quote, "start all over again." The new beginning comes with a new face -- an alternate juror, who is replacing the woman dismissed yesterday.

CNN's Rusty Dornin is following the proceedings on this sixth day of deliberations -- Rusty?

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, yes, it's back to the drawing board for this jury after the second juror in this trial was dismissed yesterday. Juror number seven, who was an electric -- works for an electric company as an auditor, was dismissed after doing some undisclosed, independent research. She's in her 40s or 50s. Sources tell CNN that the jurors were interviewed by the judge one by one, and what did come out of those interviews was also that she is not one of the jurors who was involved in that near impasse this week, but that there is a battle going on in that jury room, and that it is very contentious.

This juror is being replaced by an alternate, a woman in her late 20s, early 30s. She has four children. She told the court during the jury selection that she has nine tattoos, she's considered a very colorful character who changes her hair color very often. Legal analysts here say she shows a streak of independence that's sometimes not ideal for the prosecution.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIM HAMMER, LEGAL ANALYST: I want people who don't stand out. I want people who just blend in with the crowd or, put another way, 11 sheep and one leader. And this woman looks like a very individual kind of a person, which I like as a person, but as a prosecutor, you don't want people who stand out and change their hair color every couple of days.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DORNIN: Now, the jury consultants who assisted both sides in this case said the juror that was dismissed, it was right down the middle. They didn't -- either side didn't know which way she was going to go. Sources do tell CNN that this new juror is making the defense fairly happy. They think she is empathetic to their side.

Now, jurors began deliberating yesterday afternoon, presumably bringing her up-to-date for about two-and-a-half hours. They'll deliberate today, but tomorrow is a day off because it's Veteran's Day. Then they'll be back on Friday -- Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: All right. Rusty Dornin, thanks so much.

Well, three days before turning 57-years-old, Aleta St. James welcomed two more people to the celebration. She delivered a healthy son and daughter by Caesarean section yesterday. St. James, who helped her brother Curtis Sliwa found the Guardian Angels in the 1970s, says age is a matter of mind.

Yet, science played a big part. She became pregnant through in vitro fertilization with an egg donated by a younger woman.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. JAMIE GRIFO, NYU MEDICAL CENTER: If you're 50 and you want to do something, go for it. Because it's over when it's over.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Aleta St. James is at an age when many people are celebrating grandchildren, and we do expect to hear from her any moment. She's holding a news conference. She's going to bring out the babies. Her brother, Curtis Sliwa, is supposed to be there. Quite the family.

WHITFIELD: And other family members.

KAGAN: Exactly. While we're waiting for that to happen, let's bring in Dr. Donna Session. She's a reproductive endocrinologist and a fertility specialist who helps women get pregnant.

We hear this -- we hear a 56, 57-year-old woman having twins. How is it possible?

DR. DONNA SESSION, REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGIST: I think that it's relatively unlikely to happen with someone's own eggs. However, chances of pregnancy with using a donor's eggs remain essentially the same over age. And so, even though there's a decline in women in their own age, there isn't any change so that the uterus is able to carry a pregnancy.

KAGAN: But isn't the argument by having a -- in the case of Aleta St. James, a younger egg that perhaps what has been reduced is the risk of any kind of abnormalities with the baby?

SESSION: The chances of abnormalities with the child are often if you're referring to things like genetic normalities...

KAGAN: Any chromosomal...

SESSION: ... chromosomal abnormalities are usually based on the age of the donor as opposed to the woman carrying the pregnancy. The woman carrying the pregnancy does have increased risk based on age, including increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure during the pregnancy, increased chance of having a C-section, probably mostly due to those medical risks in pregnancy.

KAGAN: This isn't the only one we've heard in the news lately having -- older age. Elizabeth Edwards, whose husband was just running for vice president, she had two children at 48 and 50. Geena Davis recently had children well into her 40s. Madonna had babies in her 40s.

Does this send a wrong message to women out there, though? Yeah, put it off, wait well until your 40s, no problem, you can go ahead and kick out a baby?

SESSION: I think that it's important for people to still realize that your best chance of pregnancy is going to be before the age 33, using your own eggs. But it is still feasible to have a pregnancy later on.

WHITFIELD: And does it not seem that, particularly when you're dealing with in vitro fertilization, the chances of having multiples seems to increase, as well. And so, you couple that along with a mother who is likely to be over 35 and that's considered, you know, an at-risk pregnancy, do you see increased dangers?

SESSION: There are increased risks with multiple pregnancy. I think the trend recently has been to reduce the number of embryos that are transferred to the uterus to reduce that risk. I think a lot of it is driven by patients' choice, because it's a lot to go through an in vitro cycle. It's costly. It's time consuming. So, many patients actually drive the number of embryos transferred.

KAGAN: Take us inside your office for a moment. A woman in her mid-40s, early 40s shows up and says, "I want to get pregnant." What is the "let's get to reality" talk that you have with her?

SESSION: I think that if she's going to use her own eggs, the reality talk is about increased chance of chromosomal abnormalities, genetic abnormalities...

KAGAN: Like Down's syndrome.

SESSION: Increased risk of miscarriage. Women under 35 have about a 15 percent chance of miscarriage, whereas women over 40 have about a 40 to 50 percent chance of miscarriage.

KAGAN: For each pregnancy?

SESSION: Correct. And chance of miscarriage is fairly high. And so, these -- although those numbers are based on people with infertility, that's about what we see. So, chance of miscarriage is, again, most likely due to the chromosomal abnormalities, the genetics, and it's high in women over 40 who use their own eggs.

WHITFIELD: So, are you concerned or are you encouraged that a lot of women who are going to see and hear from Aleta St. James and feel like, "Well, wait a minute, you know, she's 56. There's hope for me?"

SESSION: I think that it's going to be important to counsel those patients about the risks that they would have in pregnancy, and that they would make an informed choice.

KAGAN: All about choice. Dr. Session, thank you. We're going to have you stick around and listen to the news conference with us. Not surprising, two babies, they're running behind. That'll happen. Thank you Dr. Donna Session.

Once again, we are standing by when that news conference happens from New York with the babies and the 56, 57-year-old mother, you'll see it live right here on CNN.

Right now, a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET UPDATE)

WHITFIELD: In the meantime, still in Manhattan, we're still waiting for the press conference to get under way out of Mt. Sinai Hospital, where we're hoping to hear from the doctors, as well as 56- year-old Aleta St. James, to talk about her very exciting moment of birthing twins.

KAGAN: We want to see the babies, too.

WHITFIELD: Absolutely.

KAGAN: I mean, Fred, you know what it's like, it's like the mom's cool, but it's all about the baby.

WHITFIELD: You want to see the babies.

And apparently they'll be coming out, too, in their little incubator, so we're looking forward to that. But when that happens, we'll be bringing that to you live.

For now, we're going to take a short break, though.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: As promised, here we go. Let's go to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where here you're seeing Aleta St. James, new mom, at 56, who just birthed twins. She's been rolled into position there, and a press conference will get under way, along with her parents, Francesca, as well as Chester Sliwa (ph), and she is the sister of the founder...

KAGAN: Just to make it more interesting.

(CROSSTALK)

KAGAN: You have a 56-year-old, you have twins.

WHITFIELD: That's not enough.

KAGAN: You have egg donation, but you also have Curtis Sliwa as your brother.

WHITFIELD: That's right, and she's a motivational speaker, and she's, just in preliminary interviews, before she actually birthed her twins, has been very outspoken about being so excited about this procedure, and the success of it, and now, here just a day before her 57th birthday, she's going to be speaking about birthing her twins...

KAGAN: She does look good.

WHITFIELD: ... by way of in vitro fertilization.

KAGAN: She does looks good. And as she gets into position, we also with us Dr. Donna Session from Emory University.

Doctor, what are you going to listen in to hear what this new mom has to say?

DR. DONNA SESSION, EMORY UNIV.: I think one of the things to listen to is how she did with her twins, because one of the concerns you have is about risks with multiple pregnancy.

KAGAN: And she had that happen. Looks like they're about ready to go. WHITFIELD: And very often, Dr. Session...

KAGAN: There are the babies.

WHITFIELD: There they are. Maybe that's Francesca, maybe that's Gian. We're not really sure right now.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: They blue, hey, there you go.

KAGAN: What's wrong, Fred, you got to get on top of these things.

WHITFIELD: I've got to get with the program here.

(CROSSTALK)

KAGAN: The blue means boy.

And then we're waiting for the little pink blanket.

WHITFIELD: And I guess that's Gian.

KAGAN: I think they're pronouncing it John, even though, I mean, unusual spelling G-I-A-N.

WHITFIELD:: John? OK, all right, well, I'll go for that then, at five pounds, three ounces.

KAGAN: And then the baby girl, Francesca, she came in at 5 pounds, 12 ounces.

WHITFIELD: How sweet.

This all taking place at Mt. Sinai Hospital. You see the big banners in the background.

KAGAN: Proud mom. She can hold both of them while she does this?

WHITFIELD: And apparently Aleta named of course, Francesca, the daughter, after her mom, whose name is Francesca, and her dad, Chester, is there as well.

KAGAN: And then Gian, the boy, we're not really sure who he's named after.

Let's bring Dr. Session in here -- so you're interested in the idea that, well, as can happen with in vitro, you have a higher risk of multiples.

KAGAN: Oh, see you're right, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Hey, look at this, see, girls wear blue.

ALETA ST. JAMES, MOTHER: They're so -- they're just so beautiful, these babies.

QUESTION: Are you ready?

ST. JAMES: Yep.

WHITFIELD: I think she's got them mixed up.

KAGAN: Anyway, she's putting there...

ST. JAMES: This is Gian.

WHITFIELD: Oh no, OK there you go.

ST. JAMES: And Gian means "miracle for God," and Francesca means "one who loves freedom," so there you are.

Sure.

QUESTION: Can we get the family come in and sit next to Aleta?

QUESTION: What does "Gian" mean.

ST. JAMES: Miracle for God.

QUESTION: What does "Francesca" means?

ST. JAMES: One who loves freedom.

QUESTION: Can you put the baby on the left up a little?

WHITFIELD: Well, Dr. Session, she seems awfully comfortable and relaxed a day after a cesarean section as well.

ST. JAMES: You know what? I feel terrific, I really do. I feel very excited, and part of it is almost surrealistic, it doesn't feel real, and part of it is, like, so emotional. Because -- oh, goodness. It's just something that I really wanted. And just to look at these children, and they're so beautiful. And they're so good. I mean, it's just amazing to me. I've done so many things in my life, and helped so many people manifest their dreams, that holding these children is just the most incredible thing that I've ever done in my life, and the best gift that God could have ever given to me.

And even though I'm at a certain age, and there are a lot of people that might think that this is selfish or this is crazy or whatever, I'm a little bit crazy. I've always been that way. I've never lived in the box. And I just say that, if you have a dream and you want to accomplish it, if you really put your mind to it and don't listen to other people's negativity, or limitation, you can really manifest the most incredible things. And then you have no regrets in your life in terms of what I should have done or shouldn't have done.

And this wasn't a decision that I just made. I mean, I was in very good physical condition. I do emotional healing work and life coach work, and my spiritual energy, and my mental energy and my emotional energy is very balanced, and I knew I could give extraordinary things to these children, and it's taken me all these years to really get to that level, and I said, OK, now I've done everything I wanted to do, and now I want to really give to children, in a most loving, amazing way that I know I can, and that was the reason why I embarked upon following this dream. And when that...

QUESTION: It's hard enough taking care of one, but two, you know, going it alone, how much help?

ST. JAMES: I have the most extraordinary support group, amazing. I had 75 women at my shower. I have baby bouncers, and swings and people signed up to do everything, and you know, financially I'm able to handle putting enough money behind care for the babies, and somebody told me -- OK, this was a saying from Columbia, a friend of mine said, "Babies come with a loaf of bread under their arms," which means that they provide a lot of ways in which they get taken care of. If you just have faith and believe, and aren't afraid and don't limit yourself.

But already, I mean these two miracles came in, and look at all of the love and support around. I mean, so many people are cheering me on. I never expected any of this, but I guess, it gives them hope and inspiration about what they can do in their lives, and it doesn't have to be having a baby -- it can be remarrying, it could be a relationship, it could be to create a project. So it's not over when you're 50. I believe that I'm winding up. I'm not going to wind down, and this is, like, the most amazing time of my entire life, and I see myself being young, and vital into my 70s, into my 80s.

WHITFIELD: Not over at 50, Aleta St. James says, instead, for her, it's just the beginning, at 56, the day before her 57th birthday, having birth to two there in her arms, Gian, which means "miracles from God," she said, and Francesca, "one who loves freedom."

And Dr. Donna Session, a reproductive endocrinologist has decided to stick around with us at Emory University here in Atlanta to talk a little bit more about this.

KAGAN: You know, St. James said that as long as you have a dream, as long as you don't let people be negative and tell you you can't go after something you should go for it. It's worked out for her. Not to pour water on that, but what's the reality check for women who might come to you and say, let's make a baby?

SESSION: Well, I think there's a reluctancy to have a set guideline for what age there be a cutoff for to people achieving a pregnancy, because you may have a patient who's a younger patient who has multiple medical problems where it wouldn't be a good candidate to have a pregnancy, would have significant risks, where you might have an older patient, where she mentions she's fairly healthy, where she might not have significant risks during the pregnancy.

KAGAN: Each case is individual.

Dr. Sessions, thank you, thank you so much.

WHITFIELD: We're going to take a short break, and we'll be right back.

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KAGAN: We've got some breaking news coming out of Iraq. This from near Fallujah. It's from the commander of the Iraqi forces there. He says that they have found what they're calling hostage slaughterhouses in Falluja. This is where they say foreign captives were held and killed. They found a number of the black clothing used -- that the captors would use to identify themselves, hundreds of CDs and records with names of hostages.

What's not clear is if what was in the hostage records, if they include any of the names of the nine people still in captivity, and that would include, most notably, Margaret Hassan, the French aide worker, who -- actually, the British aide worker who works with CARE International. So we're going to have much more on these hostage slaughterhouses that have been discovered in part of Falluja, near Falluja. That is just ahead.

We're expecting this news conference to happen actually from Falluja in just a few minutes with military commanders, and you'll see that live right here on CNN.

WHITFIELD: And our Karl Penhaul is near Falluja, and he's confirmed this report of these hostage slaughterhouses now, so we know for certain from officials that he's in contact with that is indeed the case.

KAGAN: He has confirmed those reports. Much more ahead from Karl Penhaul, from our Jane Arraf, and once again, that news conference.

We're going to take a break, and our next hour begins in just a couple of minutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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