When a woman decided to have more kids at 65, her decision sparked fierce debate worldwide, with many criticizing her for getting pregnant at such an old age. Please keep reading to discover why she chose to embrace motherhood again later in life.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but sometimes, our individual decisions might draw unnecessary attention and invite comments from those around us.

While many people might feel pressured to change their minds under such conditions, others choose to stand their ground. And the story we’re sharing today is of a woman who bravely shut down critics and followed through with her decision.

An Unusual Decision

Annegret Raunigk from Spandau, Berlin, Germany, was a retired primary school English and German language teacher. Married only once, she had 13 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren sired by five different fathers.

The German woman made headlines in 2005 when she gave 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 to her 13th 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥, Leila, at 55. She was a single mom of an enormous brood and familiar with 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren’s cackles, cries, and tantrums.

But in 2015, the then 65-year-old Raunigk took a decision that once again brought her to the spotlight. She found herself amidst a vortex of travels and trials, just so she could fulfill the wish of her then ten-year-old daughter, Leila.

Pregnant with Quadruplets

Raunigk went all the way to Kyiv, Ukraine, to have more 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren. She mentioned that the doctors in Germany refused to give her IVF treatment because they feared that her body wasn’t strong enough to survive the stress of pregnancy and giving 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡.

In Ukraine, she found doctors who agreed to use a donated egg and donated sperm to artificially inseminate her, which was deemed illegal in Germany. Soon afterward, the German pensioner discovered that she was pregnant with quadruplets.

Raunigk admitted she was taken aback when the ultrasound revealed she was carrying quadruplets. However, she was optimistic that she would be able to take care of them.

Welcoming Her Little Ones

In May 2015, she gave 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 to one girl and three boys, 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 very premature, with her 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 girl, Neeta, only 1lb 7oz. Raunigk’s other three preemie babies were also tiny — with Bence 1lb 8oz, Fjonn 1lb 10oz, and Dries 2lb 2oz.

Here’s another story about a woman who welcomed her first 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 at 66 and faced severe backlash for her decision.

The quadruplets stayed in incubators for the first few weeks at the Neonatology Department at Berlin’s Charite Hospital. The doctors even feared that the premature and severely underweight babies might not survive.

Fulfilling Her Daughter’s Wish

The babies spent a long time connected to breathing tubes. Dries required surgery after developing fluid on his brain, but fortunately, he recovered through a procedure that diverted excess cerebral fluid to his abdomen.

Neeta also had an operation to repair a hole in her bowel. After spending three months in intensive care, the quadruplets were deemed strong and healthy to leave the hospital with their mother.

The four bundles of joy were greeted warmly by their older sister, Leila, who had convinced Raunigk to seek fertility treatment in Ukraine because she wanted a sibling to play with. Much to her excitement, she now had four younger siblings to keep her company.

Slamming Critics

Raunigk, who was solely focused on her family and fulfilling her daughter’s wish, was slammed by critics for becoming pregnant at an advanced age. She shared she wasn’t bothered about what people said about her decision. Further, she added:

“Everyone should live as they want to but everyone, it seems, has something to say about this. This is not about egotism and it is not selfishness. I like 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren – they keep me young. You get more tolerant the older you get.”

The mom of 17 became one of the world’s oldest women with quadruplets. Raunigk, a grandmother of seven, expressed she believed in the philosophy of “live and let live” and was least concerned about the debate centered on the rights and wrongs of her choice.

Focused On Her Family

As more negative comments poured in, Raunigk continued to defend her decision. She slammed her critics in these words: “How does one have to behave at 65? They can see it how they want to, and I’ll see it the way I think is right.”

Despite the fierce debate around her decision, Raunigk said she felt fit enough and ready to look after all her 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren and wished to move to the small and quiet town of Hoexter in the state of NorthRhine-Westphalia to raise them.

If you liked reading this story, here’s another one that you might like even more, and it’s about a woman who welcomed her first 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 at 66 and faced severe backlash for her decision. You can read the whole story here.