Quadruplets
(IN PHOTO) A nurse handles quadruplets in Stella Maris hospital in Medan, Indonesia's North Sumatra province January 24, 2012. A male and three other female babies are born to Indonesian couple Sonta Ria Nababan, 39, and Jon Pieter Manik, 38, on Monday. The babies are conceived under the insemination program after a four year wait by the couple, local media reported. Reuters

At 65, Berlin schoolteacher Annegret Raunigk should be doting on grandchildren, not still bearing babies. But she will even deliver quadruplets in June.

The four upcoming babies were formed from donated eggs that were fertilised and implanted at a clinic outside Germany, reports Bild. They would add to her 13 children ages 9 to 44 from five men.

The decision to have four more children was to give in to the request of her 9-year-old daughter – currently Raunigk’s youngest – who wanted younger siblings. Understandably, medical professionals criticise her decision to become mother again.

Her response to their criticism is: “They can see it how they want to, and I’ll see it the way I think is right,” quotes AP.

She actually is a grandmother of seven, making the four new babies younger than their seven nieces and nephews. USA Today reports that despite her advance age, Raunigk’s has no complications during the pregnancy.

Raunigk has been advised by doctors that older mother’s chances of premature births are higher, so they are monitoring the 65-year-old mum-to-be again. The quadruplets were unplanned, so when her doctors found out she was going to have four, they suggest that she abort one of the fetuses to increase the chances of the three others.

But she refused and is taking the chance. Raunigk already made headlines when she gave birth almost a decade ago at 55. With four more coming at 65, German broadcaster RTL is documenting the pregnancy until childbirth.

To contact the writer, email: v.hernandez@ibtimes.com.au

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