Woman Welcomes 10th Child At 66, Almost 50 Years After Her First Baby

A 66-year-old woman in Germany has given birth to her 10th child, conceiving naturally without the use of in-vitro fertilization. Alexandra Hildebrandt welcomed her baby boy, Philipp, via cesarean section on March 19 at Charite Hospital in Berlin. The newborn weighed a healthy 7 pounds and 13 ounces at birth.

Ms. Hildebrandt, who owns and manages the Wall Museum at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, first became a mother in the late 1970s. Remarkably, she gave birth to eight of her children after turning 50, all delivered via C-section.

"A big family is not only something wonderful but also essential for raising children properly," she told TODAY.

Her children include Svetlana, 46; Artiom, 36; twins Elisabeth and Maximilian, 12; Alexandra, 10; Leopold, 8; Anna, 7; Maria, 4; and Katharina, 2.

Ms. Hildebrandt's OB/GYN, Dr. Wolfgang Henrich, described her pregnancy as "largely uncomplicated," attributing her ability to manage it well to her excellent physical health and mental resilience.

When asked about her secret to maintaining pregnancies at her age, Ms. Hildebrandt credited her active lifestyle, stating that she has never used contraception. "I eat very healthily, swim for an hour daily, run for two hours, don't smoke or drink, and have never used contraception," she shared.

She also expressed her views on family and child-rearing, emphasizing the need to encourage people to have more children. "There is a tendency to be unfriendly toward children. Many people would change their perspective once they had contact with them. We should promote the idea of having more children!"

Ms. Hildebrandt is not the only woman to give birth at an advanced age. In November 2023, 70-year-old Safina Namukwaya from Uganda welcomed twins through IVF, having previously given birth to a baby girl in 2020.