A woman can theoretically have 15 to 30 children, but the highest recorded number is 69, born to Valentina Vassilyev (Russia, 18th century) in 27 pregnancies (twins, triplets, quadruplets), with modern averages far lower due to health and family planning. While some women experience easier pregnancies, frequent births pose risks like nutrient depletion and uterine stress, making the extreme record exceptional rather than typical.
The world record for the most children born to one woman is 69, held by Valentina Vassilyeva, the first wife of Russian peasant Feodor Vassilyev, who gave birth 27 times between 1725 and 1765, producing 16 pairs of twins, 7 sets of triplets, and 4 sets of quadruplets.
Marie-Elise Chamberland and Heliodore Cyr married in 1928 and gave birth to 27 children by 1959, all single births. 19 of them survived to adulthood.
More women and birthing people than ever are getting pregnant in their 40s. Most people over 40 who get pregnant have healthy pregnancies and babies. However, it can take longer to get pregnant and some people have complications. If you're older than 35, you're more likely to conceive more than 1 baby.
Meet Mama Francine: A Record-Breaking Mother of 53 Children From Goma, DR Congo, comes the incredible story of 50-year-old Mama Francine, recognized as one of the world's most fertile women after giving birth to an astounding 53 children.
So, even with optimal health and no multiples, having 100 children naturally would take 100 years, but since menopause usually occurs around age 50, it's simply not feasible within the human reproductive window, even if she were to conceive and give birth every year without any issues.
Though women's natural fertility ends with menopause, giving us a defined period of time to study, men continue to produce sperm until the very end of their lives, making pregnancy possible from the sperm of 50-year-olds (and 80-year-olds). There are several issues that affect men as they age related to fertility.
Of course, many couples in their 40s will conceive naturally and go on to have successful pregnancies and healthy babies. But it is important to tell the truth about how age affects your chances because knowledge is power and time is fertility – including when it comes to the success of fertility treatments.
How many eggs does a woman have at 40? By the time a woman reaches 40, she'll be down to about 18,000 (3% of her pre-birth egg supply). Although the chances of conception are lower, this does not mean it is impossible to conceive at this age.
At 20 weeks of pregnancy, a female fetus has 6–7 million of eggs. By the time the woman is 30 years, she will have lost nearly 90% of her eggs and at the age of 40 years, only around 3% of eggs are left. Most women are no longer able to become naturally pregnant in their mid-40s.
The "3-3-3 Rule" for kids is a simple mindfulness technique to manage anxiety by grounding them in the present moment: first, name three things they can see; next, identify three sounds they hear; and finally, move three different parts of their body. This engages their senses, shifts focus from worries, and helps them regain control when feeling overwhelmed, like during test anxiety or social situations.
The "3-2-1 Rule" in pregnancy is a guideline for first-time mothers to know when to call their midwife or doctor for active labor: consistent contractions that are 3 minutes apart, lasting 2 minutes each, for 1 hour (or sometimes cited as 3-1-1, meaning 3 minutes apart, 1 minute long, for 1 hour). For subsequent pregnancies, the 5-1-1 Rule (5 minutes apart, 1 minute long, for 1 hour) is often used, indicating labor is progressing more quickly.
The "777 rule for kids" has two main meanings in parenting: one focuses on daily connection time (7 mins morning, 7 mins after school, 7 mins before bed) for feeling seen and valued, while another defines developmental stages (0-7 play, 7-14 teach, 14-21 guide) for parents to tailor their involvement. A third variation suggests limiting screen time to 7 hours/week, maintaining 7 feet distance, and avoiding screens 7 days before events. All aim to build stronger parent-child bonds through intentional, focused interaction or developmentally appropriate parenting roles.
After a woman starts her menstrual cycle, one egg is ovulated and about 1,000 (immature) eggs are lost each month. The number of eggs a woman loses each month is not influenced by anything that can be controlled.
The most expensive egg in the world: Fabergé Third Imperial Easter Egg – $33,000,000.
Regardless of their shell color or farming method, all eggs contain the same vital nutrients unless they have been fortified. If eggs are noted as nutritionally enhanced, their labeling will specify which nutrient content has been altered.
Key Takeaways. Pregnancy at age 70 is possible through assisted reproductive technologies (ART) like IVF with donor eggs, though extremely rare. Natural pregnancy is impossible at 70 since menopause depletes egg reserves, but the uterus can support pregnancy with hormone therapy.
Women over 45 typically have a difficult time conceiving naturally due to the decrease in egg quantity and egg quality. However, fertility treatment options — like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and egg donation — have become successful options for women over 45, leading to healthy pregnancies.
Women do not remain fertile until menopause. The average age for menopause is 51, but most women become unable to have a successful pregnancy sometime in their mid-40s. These percentages are true for natural conception as well as conception using fertility treatment, including in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Key takeaways. Male fertility typically begins to decline around age 35, becoming more pronounced after 40. Most men never completely stop producing sperm.
The oldest ever man to father a child was reportedly Les Colley (1898 - 1998, Australia), who had his ninth child a son named Oswald to his third wife at the age of 92 years 10 months. Colley met Oswald's Fijian mother in 1991 through a dating agency at the age of 90.
Sperm typically can stay alive for about 3 to 5 days within the cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes. It's possible for an egg to be fertilized at any point during that time. The likelihood of pregnancy is highest when live sperm are in the fallopian tubes when an egg is released from one of the ovaries.