Update On Preemie Quadruplets Born To 65-Year-Old Mom [Video]

Three months ago, Annegret Raunigk shocked the world when she prematurely gave birth to quadruplets at the age of 65. Already the mother of 13 children, Annegret’s decision to become pregnant through invitro fertilization with donor sperm and eggs was controversial, and the choice to bring all four babies to term met even more ridicule.

In a related report by The Inquisitr, the mother rejected the suggestion of a “selective reduction” procedure, in which one or more of the babies would be aborted to improve the chances of the mother and remaining quadruplets surviving.

Dr. Holger Stepan explained the pregnancy of the quadruplets was extremely high risk, due to the mother’s advanced maternal age, which encompasses any age over 35.

“Any pregnancy of a woman over age 45 has to be considered a high-risk pregnancy; over 60 this is naturally extreme. The 65-year-old body is definitely not designed to carry a pregnancy, not of one child and certainly not of quadruplets.”

The quadruplets were born at just 26 weeks gestation on May 19 by Caesarian Section, weighing from 1.4 to 2.1 pounds. Two of the quadruplets had to undergo surgery following birth, and two needed help breathing.

Annegret, who decided to have more children at the request of her youngest daughter, who is now 10, did not take well to accusations of selfishness, reports the Telegraph.

“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.”

According to People, the quadruplets are comprised of three boys and one girl named Dries, Bence, Fjonn, and Neeta, respectively. Having the quadruplets at the age of 65 has made Annegret the world’s oldest mother to birth quadruplets. Aside from the four newborns, she has 13 older children, ranging in age from 10 to 44, as well as seven grandchildren.

Now at three months old, the quadruplets are doing surprisingly well, and will be going home soon. Each of the babies weighs over five pounds and are in great health. The Telegraph further reports the head of neonatal services at Charité Hospital in Berlin, Christoph Buehrer, feels assured that the quadruplets are doing well.

“We can see that the children are doing well. They feel good with their mother.”

Very soon, the 65-year-old mother will take the quadruplets home to reunite with the big sister who wished them into existence.

[Image via Shutterstock]