Criticism as 65-year-old gives birth to quads

A 65-year-old teacher from Berlin has given birth to quadruplets after a pregnancy widely criticised by medical professionals because of her age, RTL television said.

Annegret Raunigk gave birth to a girl, Neeta, and three boys, Dries, Bence, and Fjonn, by caesarean section at a Berlin hospital Tuesday, RTL said.

The newborns weighed between 655g (1lb, 7oz) and 960g (2lb, 2oz) each.

A spokeswoman for RTL said the babies stood a strong chance of survival but possible complications couldn’t yet be ruled out, because they were born in the 26th week of pregnancy. Their mother was doing well, the spokeswoman said.

“Ms. Raunigk basically has no medical risk anymore,” Heike Speda said.

She said the woman had signed a contract granting RTL exclusive access in return for an undisclosed sum. Raunigk already had 13 children ranging in age from 9 to 44, from five fathers.

She told Germany’s Bild newspaper last month that she decided to become pregnant again because her 9-year-old daughter wanted a younger sibling. She also has seven grandchildren.

Raunigk traveled abroad to have donated, fertilised eggs implanted — a procedure that is illegal in Germany.