German woman, 65, gives birth to quadruplets

Doctors had criticised mother’s decision to have fertilised eggs implanted

23 May 2015, 1:04pm

1 min read

Annegret Raunigk, 10 years ago, pictured with one of her daughters

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.

Although the quadruplets have a strong chance of survival, complications cannot be ruled out because they were born prematurely at 26 weeks.

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.