A 65-year-old teacher from Berlin has given birth to quadruplets after a pregnancy that was widely criticised by medical professionals because of her age, RTL television has reported.

Annegret Raunigk gave birth to a girl, Neeta, and three boys – Dries, Bence and Fjonn – by Caesarean section at a Berlin hospital on Tuesday, RTL said.

The newborns weighed between one lb, seven ounces and two lbs, two ounces each.

A spokeswoman for RTL said the babies stood a strong chance of survival but possible complications could not yet be ruled out because they were born in the 26th week of pregnancy.

Their mother was doing well, the spokeswoman said.

“Ms Raunigk basically has no medical risk any more,” Heike Speda told The Associated Press.

She said the woman had signed a contract granting RTL exclusive access in return for an undisclosed sum.

Ms Raunigk already had 13 children ranging in age from nine to 44, from five fathers.

She told Germany’s Bild newspaper last month that she decided to become pregnant again because her nine-year-old daughter wanted a younger sibling. She also has seven grandchildren.