A 23-year-old woman
A viral story claiming a 23-year-old gave birth to 14 babies at once has circulated online, but fact-checking organizations like Snopes and AFP Fact Check confirm it’s false.
**Medically Implausible**
While rare cases of high-order multiple births exist (such as Halima Cissé’s nine babies in 2021), delivering 14 infants in a single pregnancy is biologically unrealistic. The current verified record is eight babies born alive (the Suleman octuplets in 2009).
**How These Myths Spread**
Fake stories like this often use misleading headlines, altered images, or recycled photos of real births to go viral. They prey on public fascination with extreme medical cases.
**Real Cases of High Fertility**
Some women, like Uganda’s Mariam Nabatanzi (who had 44 children by age 36), achieve large families through multiple pregnancies—not a single miraculous birth. These cases are still exceptionally rare.
**Red Flags to Spot Fakes**
Unverified claims often lack credible sources, named doctors, or hospital confirmations. Always cross-check with trusted institutions like the WHO or Guinness World Records.
**Why It Matters**
Sharing false medical stories can spread misinformation and create unrealistic expectations about fertility and childbirth risks.
**The Bottom Line**
This 14-baby story is fabricated. For accurate health information, rely on established medical authorities—not sensationalized social media posts.
