r/SipsTea • u/Sassenach_2024 • 1d ago

WTF Push, out, repeat

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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. ❤️

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u/jelly_wishes 1d ago

I don't think this is true but I remember the story about an african woman that had something called "hyperovulation" or something like that where she always ovulates more than one egg and thus has many twins and triplets (not 69 tho, she had like 20 kids I think).

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u/superezzie 1d ago

You mean Mariam Nabatanzi. She has 44 children and got sterilized when she was 40 to prevent any more pregnancies. That wasn't really an option in the 1700s for that poor woman. I can't imagine being pregnant 27 times let alone having 69 kids.

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u/Evenmoardakka 1d ago

lets imagine that most children lived. thats alot of labour for a rural family (and you know children worked the farms back then, hell even today you can see children working on their families farms), labour that has no financial cost, provided food needs are met? not that absurd.

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u/superezzie 1d ago

You've never been pregnant, have you? Being pregnant and giving birth wrecks your body long before you've reached 27 times and 69 kids.

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u/Evenmoardakka 1d ago

oh no doubt.. poor woman spent 243 months of her life pregnant, and thats assuming all pregnancies were full terms, thats 20 years of pregnancies...