Doctors say the week-old quadruplets born prematurely to 65-year-old Annegret Raunigk in Berlin are still in intensive care, but have been gaining a little weight and are being given their mother's milk through feeding tubes.
The babies were born during the 26th week of pregnancy at Berlin's Charite Hospital on May 19.
Neeta and her three brothers — Dries, Bence and Fjonn — weighed between 1 lb., 7 ounces and 2 lbs., 2 ounces each at birth. Their exact weight is not known because they are too fragile to be put on a scale.
Neeta is the smallest but is fitter than her three brothers, said Christoph Buehrer, Charite's director of neonatology. She underwent successful surgery this week to close two small holes in her intestines.
All four babies will remain in intensive care for several weeks and are supported by machines helping them breathe. "Breathing is their most critical vital function," said Buehrer, adding that it's not clear yet whether the children will have any long-term health issues because of the premature delivery.
Raunigk is believed to be the oldest mother to have ever delivered quadruplets, said Charite's director of obstetrics, Wolfgang Henrich.
She came to the hospital with premature contractions and high blood pressure and gave birth by cesarean section.
The school teacher already has 13 children, aged 9 to 44, from five other fathers. Because egg donation is illegal in Germany, she traveled to Ukraine to have donated, fertilized eggs transferred.
She says she decided to become pregnant again because her 9-year-old daughter wanted a younger sibling.