By Rachel Morton
A Melbourne woman who already has 10 children is preparing to give birth to quintuplets.
The odds of conceiving quintuplets naturally are 55 million to one, and it's even more remarkable in this case as the mother is 48 years old – and conceived the babies naturally.
"Fertility naturally declines, and so to conceive spontaneously after the age of 45 is uncommon and a multiple pregnancy is particularly uncommon," says Dr Lenn Klimmin.
The woman, who wants to remain anonymous, is understood to be in the 29th week of her pregnancy and has been admitted to Melbourne's Monash Medical Centre.
It's been reported she has at least 10 other children.
Last year in Brisbane a lesbian couple had quins with the help of sperm donor. They're one of just 11 sets of quintuplets ever born in Australia.
Margaret Pitts has 12 children, including three sets of twins making her family one of largest in Victoria – she has some idea of what's in store for the quins' mum.
"Good luck to her. Twins was bad enough, let alone five."
The quins' mother can look forward to around 50 nappy changes each day – if she uses disposables she's looking at a cost of about $5500 dollars a year.
A team of around 30 doctors and nurses will assist when she gives birth.
3 News