Most people expected Annegret Raunigk to enjoy retirement and spend time with her grandchildren. Instead, at 65 years old, she stunned the public by giving birth to four more children at once.
The Berlin resident had already raised 13 children before making headlines across Germany. After working for years as a primary school teacher, she retired in 2005 and appeared ready for a quieter life.
But that same year, she underwent artificial insemination and gave birth to another daughter, becoming Germany’s oldest mother at the time.
The decision immediately caused controversy. Many people criticized Annegret and called her irresponsible, but she ignored the backlash and focused on her family.
Years later, her youngest daughter told her she wished for a little brother or sister. Even in her 60s, Annegret felt healthy enough to become a mother again.
Since doctors in Germany refused to perform the procedure, she traveled abroad and received a donor egg at a fertility clinic.
What happened next shocked even doctors.
Instead of one pregnancy, four embryos developed successfully.
In 2015, shortly after turning 65, Annegret gave birth to three boys and one girl by cesarean section. The babies were born 15 weeks early and each weighed less than one kilogram.
Many feared the newborns would not survive, but the quadruplets slowly grew stronger and eventually began gaining weight normally.
Despite the happy outcome, criticism followed Annegret everywhere. People questioned how a woman her age could raise 17 children and accused her of thinking only about herself.
Annegret later admitted that life with such a massive family is exhausting and leaves almost no time for rest, especially at her age.
Still, she has always insisted she does not regret her decision.
Today, photos of her enormous family continue spreading online, with many people stunned that one woman became the mother of 17 children — including quadruplets born at 65.
