65-year-old, Anngret Raunigk, who is pregnant for the 14th time after using fertility treatment, is expecting quadruplets in the Summer.
She has appeared on the cover of German tabloid, Bild am Sonntag who along with German TV station, RTL, are following her story closely. Anngret’s youngest child is 9-years-old and was conceived naturally 10 years ago, meanwhile her eldest is 44.
The unorthodox move came about when her youngest child expressed a wish for siblings.
She already has 13 children by 5 different fathers and 7 grandchildren and has dismissed any hint of public criticism saying:
“I always find it very aggravating that one has to fulfil certain clichés. I think that one has to decide for oneself, stick to one’s opinion and not allow oneself to be influenced too much by others.”
She has said that she was shocked at discovering that she was carrying four babies after seeking fertility treatment and conceiving with donor sperm and eggs. However when doctors proposed ‘reducing’ (aborting one of the babies, which according to doctors would improve the other babies’ chances of survival), Anngrat was certain that she would keep all the babies.
Despite her age both Anngret and her doctor seem to be optimistic about her health during pregnancy and beyond.
Dr. Herwig told Bild am Sonntag that he sees no physiological difference between Anngret and his other younger patients though he warned that a premature birth was likely.
Anngret appears to be quite undaunted by the prospect of four more babies citing her organisational skills as key to her parenting approach.
“I have enough experience with organisation so that won’t be a problem.”
Presumably she won’t be short on man power at home either with 13 children and 7 grandchildren to lend a hand.
