Grandmother, 65, gives birth to quadruplets, German TV reports

A 65-year-old woman has given birth to quadruplets, German media has reported – making her a mother to 17 children. Annegret Raunigk had been criticised by doctors for her decision to have fertilised eggs implanted abroad, amid concerns her body would be physically incapable of bearing the children. However, the three boys and one girl were delivered by caesarean section in Berlin on Tuesday, according to RTL who said the new arrivals make her the world’s oldest mother of quadruplets. The single mother reportedly decided to try for another baby when her youngest daughter, who is now 10, said she wanted a little brother or sister.

As is common with premature births, the children are in incubators and being medically cared for and observed.

German broadcaster RTL

Although the quadruplets have a strong chance of survival, complications cannot be ruled out because they were born prematurely at 26 weeks. Ms Raunigk is a teacher nearing retirement, and has seven grandchildren. Her case has caused considerable controversy in her native Germany – with one politician branding her decision to pursue IVF abroad as “negligent”. Under German law, she was deemed too old to receive reproductive medicine. She became pregnant after undergoing several artificial insemination procedures in Ukraine. The Bild am Sonntag tabloid quoted Raunigk, whose oldest daughter is reportedly 44, recalling that it was “a shock” when the doctors first broke the news to her of a quadruplet pregnancy. She said: “After the doctor discovered there were four, I had to give it some thought to begin with.”

How does one have to be at 65? One must apparently always fit some cliches which I find rather tiring. I think, one must decide that for oneself.

Annegret Raunigk speaking to RTL when the doctors first broke the news to her of a quadruplet pregnancy

Health 65 quadruplets