A German woman is facing criticism after becoming pregnant at age 65 with quadruplets. Annegret Raunigk, a Berlin schoolteacher who is due soon to retire, is expected to give birth to the four babies within the next two months, Bild newspaper and RTL television reported.
She already has children ranging in age from 9 to 44, from five fathers. Raunigk said she decided to become pregnant again because her 9-year-old daughter wanted a younger sibling.
Pregnancy risks increase as the age of the mother increases and can include increased risk of genetic abnormalities, loss of pregnancy or stillbirth, and pregnancy-related health problems such as pre-eclampsia.
Raunigk told Bild that donated eggs were fertilized and implanted at a clinic outside Germany, which was successful only after multiple attempts.
She defended her decision: “How does one have to behave at 65?”
“They can see it how they want to,” she said, “and I’ll see it the way I think is right.”
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As seen in Metro