This Mother Gave Birth to 69 Babies

She was pregnant for a total of 18 years.

My husband and I said we wanted a big family. We capped out at three kids, and not a day goes by that we don’t feel at least a little bit overwhelmed and outnumbered. But before I ever consider complaining about my journey through parenting, I will remember the astonishing story of Valentina Vassilyeva, who holds the world record for most births.

Valentina Vassilyeva was the first wife of Feodor Vassilyev; both were peasants and living in Shuya Russia in the first half of…