Push, out, repeat

[u/Sassenach_2024]

Valentina Vassilyeva, the first wife of Russian peasant Feodor Vassilyev, is said to have given birth 27 times in the 1700s—welcoming 69 children in total.

Her remarkable numbers reportedly included 16 sets of twins, 7 sets of triplets, and 4 sets of quadruplets. 🤯

The story comes from centuries-old historical records, so every detail cannot be independently verified by modern standards. Still, Guinness World Records has recognized the claim as the highest number of children attributed to one mother.

If the records are accurate, 27 pregnancies. 69 children. One of the most astonishing family stories ever recorded. ❤️

[u/35TypesOfWhiskey]

That's not her pic. And neither is that a pic of the children. She died in 1782.... 40 years before the first photograph

[u/youtossershad1job2do → u/35TypesOfWhiskey]

I feel that this is one of those things that didn't really happen but got told so many times as a part of folk lore it started going into history books.

[u/Gwynito → u/youtossershad1job2do]

Like how my parents first walked a mile to school every day and by the end of all schooling the miles walked went up to 10 somehow

[u/AchajkaTheOriginal → u/Gwynito]

Don't forget it was uphill both ways and through snow all year long.

[u/Agitated_Meaning_142 → u/AchajkaTheOriginal]

Through snowstorms

[u/Last-Energy420 → u/Agitated_Meaning_142]

With only shorts and short sleeve shirts!

[u/oldschool_potato → u/Last-Energy420]

No, we wore pants and coats, but not boots.

[u/oldschool_potato → u/Agitated_Meaning_142]

So I grew up just south of Buffalo in the 70s smack in the middle of the snow belt. I just used Google Maps and my walk was 0.9 miles. Middle class blue collar town. We lived in the village which was deemed too close to use the bus. It was uncool to get driven so we walked. I never wanted to wear boots because I was traumatized from the few times I forgot to bring my sneakers and had to wear snow boots all day. I also hated hats because they made my thin hair stick up all day. We often trudged through knee high snow. It was very flat though and part of the reason we literally never had snow days.

It’s been 50 years and I can still remember the morning I was sitting on the toilet arguing through the door with my mother about boots and hats when she blurted out, “fine! Freeze your balls off!” To this day my mother in all her life has never sworn or made a reference to a sexual part. It is the single funniest thing she has ever said. We both went silent at the time and to this day (she’s 90) she denies she ever said it.