Lask week, a German woman reportedly became the oldest woman in history to give birth to quadruplets.
According to Daily Mail, 65-year-old teacher Annegret Raunigk gave birth to three boys, Dries, Bence and Fjonn, and one girl, Neeta, by way of a Cesarean section in Berlin.
The children are at risk of complications because they were born 12 weeks premature.
Raunigk, who teaches English and Russian, already has 13 children -- the youngest child is 9 and the oldest is 44.
She decided to undergo artificial insemination when her youngest child asked for a little brother or sister.
The quadruplets were the result of numerous IVF treatments conducted in the Ukraine because the procedure is illegal in Germany.
Raunigk's gynecologist suggested she abort one or more of the children over health concerns.
She declined, however, and had faith in her ability to maintain good health, Yahoo! News reports.
In an interview with German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, Raunigk said,
I'm not actually afraid. I simply assume I'll remain healthy and fit. In matters of organisation I have enough experience, that's not new for me.
Many deem Raunigk as careless because of her age. People assume it will become increasingly difficult to play an active role in the maturation of her newborns.
Raunigk dismissed such criticisms and suggested the pregnancy made her life more interesting.
She told RTL,
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.
Raunigk previously told Bild she originally intended to have just one child but "things happen."
She said,
I'm not a planner but rather spontaneous. And children keep me young.
The teacher is also the grandmother of seven children and plans to retire in the near future.
Citations: German primary school teacher gives birth to quadruplets two and a half months prematurely and all babies have a good chance of surviving (Daily Mail), German woman 65 and mother of 13 has quadruplets (Yahoo News)
