Woman, 66, gives birth to 10th child without IVF

The scientific technique is designed to prevent children being born with devastating mitochondrial diseases (PA Archive)

A 66-year-old German woman, Alexandra Hildebrandt, has drawn attention after giving birth to her 10th child without fertility treatment.
The birth took place on March 19 at the Charité Hospital in Berlin, Germany, through a caesarean section.

She shared the news during an interview with TODAY.com on Wednesday, March 26.

According to Hildebrandt, the baby, named Philipp, arrived weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces and is healthy.

She described him as a perfect addition to her already large household, which includes children aged between 2 and 46.

“A big family is not only something wonderful, but above all, it is important for raising children properly,” she said in an email.

Hildebrandt, who manages the Wall Museum at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, is no stranger to public attention.

Her life is a mix of history, motherhood, and now, medical wonder. Despite her age, she insisted the pregnancy was not planned through science but happened naturally.

The sexagenarian mother revealed that she lives a very active lifestyle. Before Philipp’s birth, she told German newspaper Bild,
“I eat very healthily, swim regularly for an hour, walk for two hours.”

Her doctor, Dr Wolfgang Henrich, confirmed that her pregnancy was smooth, describing it as a “largely uncomplicated pregnancy,” even though Hildebrandt has had eight caesarean births in the past.

The 10 children include twins, Elisabeth and Maximilian, both 12 years old, showing that Hildebrandt’s journey to motherhood has been both long and filled with variety.

But having children at such an advanced age isn’t common. Henrich warned that pregnancies later in life carry more risks.

“Complications such as high blood pressure, premature birth and cardiovascular issues usually increase with age,” he explained.

She says she received nothing but love and congratulations from her friends and family after announcing Philipp’s birth.

“I have only received positive feedback,” she told TODAY.com.

Meanwhile, health experts believe age is not always a limitation when it comes to childbirth.

According to a 2019 Healthline report citing the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, pregnancy can still be possible “in virtually any woman with a normal uterus, regardless of age.”

Interestingly, Hildebrandt’s story comes just months after a 70-year-old Ugandan woman, Safina Namukwaya, gave birth to twins through IVF in November 2023

She also welcomed a baby girl in 2020, showing that modern motherhood continues to break boundaries.