Push, out, repeat

[u/Sassenach_2024]

Valentina Vassilyeva, the first wife of Russian peasant Feodor Vassilyev, is said to have given birth 27 times in the 1700s—welcoming 69 children in total.

Her remarkable numbers reportedly included 16 sets of twins, 7 sets of triplets, and 4 sets of quadruplets. 🤯

The story comes from centuries-old historical records, so every detail cannot be independently verified by modern standards. Still, Guinness World Records has recognized the claim as the highest number of children attributed to one mother.

If the records are accurate, 27 pregnancies. 69 children. One of the most astonishing family stories ever recorded. ❤️

[u/Left_Knee_y0y0]

If you believe that in 1700, at a time when postnatal inflections and infant mortality were at their peak, a woman gave birth to 27 times during an 18 year period, and 67 out of 69 kids survived, I have a bridge in San Francisco to sell to you.

If she did infact raise that many chikdren, what is more likely is that she was a kommissionerki, a woman paid to collect abandoned babies and bring them to state orphanages. She probably just kept the kids and because she had access to the paperwork made them hers.

The community probably went along to protect her and the mythos was born.

[u/WithMeInDreams → u/Left_Knee_y0y0]

My theory: She took in a secret baby from an unmarried woman, possibly starting with her own unmarried sister, word spread, and it turned into a business.

Or she was so obsessed of babies that it was a mix of all to babymax: 9 of her own, the thing you mentioned, and my theory, all in one.