Sixty-five-year-old Berlin grandmother Annegret Raunigk is about to become the world’s oldest mother, as she’s set to give birth to quadruplets this summer.
Raunigk, who currently has 13 children, chose to become pregnant by IVF after her 9-year-old daughter asked for a little brother or sister.
The expectant schoolteacher was artificially inseminated by both donated eggs and sperm, and after 18 months of trying, found out she was pregnant with not one, but four babies.
German newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported that the grandmother of seven, whose oldest child is 44, was shocked by the news of her pregnancy.
“‘Certainly that was a shock for me. After the doctor discovered there were four, I had to give it some thought to begin with.
“I’m not actually afraid. I simply assume I’ll remain healthy and fit. In matters of organization I have enough experience, that’s not new for me.”
Raunigk also does not believe that she is too old to raise four infants.
“‘How does one have to be at 65?’ She countered when asked by Luxembourg-based broadcaster RTL about her age and rearing young children.
“‘One must apparently always fit some cliches which I find rather tiring. I think, one must decide that for oneself.’”
According to RTL , Raunigk’s gynecologist, Kai Hertwig, indicated that although quadruplet pregnancies are always a strain, everything was going well. Hertwig explained that the most risk the babies would face is a premature birth, and that is something the doctors will work hard to prevent.
Ten years ago, Raunigk made headlines as the oldest mother in Germany when she gave birth to her 13th child, Lelia, at the age of 55.
Currently, Merryl Fudel holds the record for giving birth to quadruplets over the age of 50. The title of the world’s oldest mother is said to be held by Omkari Panwar, who in 2008 gave birth to twins at the age of 70.
Many have wondered how women of Raunigk’s age are able to have children. The truth is, once a woman has gone through menopause , it is impossible for her to get pregnant without the help of donor eggs or her own frozen eggs.
[Image via RTL/AFP/Telegraph]
