In a rare and medically risky case, a 55-year-old woman from Rajasthan’s Udaipur district gave birth to her 17th child earlier this week. Rekha Kalbelia, a resident of Lilavas village in Jhadol block, delivered the baby at the Community Health Centre. Her husband, Kavara Ram Kalbelia, and other family members, including her grandchildren, were present at the time of the delivery.
Initially, Rekha reportedly told hospital staff that it was her fourth childbirth. However, medical professionals later learned that she had already delivered 16 children, five of whom died shortly after birth. The gynaecologist who supervised the delivery, Dr. Roshan Darangi, said that multiple pregnancies over the years had weakened Rekha’s uterus, increasing the risk of excessive bleeding and potential danger to her life. Fortunately, the delivery was successful, and both mother and baby are safe.
Poverty, Debt, and No Education
The Kalbelia family lives in extreme poverty. Kavara, who earns a living as a scrap collector, has taken loans at 20% interest to support the family and arrange his children’s weddings. Despite repaying lakhs of rupees, the debt continues to accumulate due to high interest rates.
None of their 12 surviving children, seven sons and five daughters, have ever attended school. Five of them are married and have children of their own, making Rekha a grandmother many times over. The family lives without stable housing or basic amenities.
A Sanctioned House, But No Land
Although the family was sanctioned a house under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), they remain homeless due to the land not being in their name. “We don’t have enough for food, let alone education or weddings,” said Kavara. His daughter, Shila Kalbelia, shared that people are often shocked to learn her mother has so many children. “It’s been a very difficult life for all of us,” she added.
Similar incident
Recently, Alexandra Hildebrandt, a 66-year-old historian and museum director from Germany, has given birth to her 10th child, defying conventional norms of motherhood. Hildebrandt, who owns and manages the Wall Museum at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, welcomed her newborn son, Philipp, on March 19 at Charite Hospital in Berlin.
The baby, delivered via caesarean section, weighed seven pounds and 13 ounces. Due to medical precautions, he was placed in an incubator immediately after birth to ensure his well-being, reported the Fox News.
