How is it possible for a 42 year-old woman to have a multiple pregnancy?

[Bostonbutterfly]

It just happened to my mother's friend. She's married to her 2nd husband. She got pregnant for the 2nd time. She already has a 17 year-old daughter. She had C-section done recently; they were healthy quadruplets (3 boys and 1 girl).

She's already 42 years old. She had no fertility treatment done. There are less eggs at that age so having one egg fertilized is already hard. How was she able to give birth to 4 babies without any treatment done? Is that even likely or was it just pure, random luck?

Updates

+1 y

She knows this runs in her family (though, the women were much younger than her) but she didn't imagine having 4 babies at that age.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure how statistically likely it is, but I'm sure that it's less likely than if you're younger. However I had my second pregnancy at 41 (and it was with twins). I also wasn't trying to get pregnant (although I'm happy I did!).
I'd be willing to bet it's less likely than if you're younger, but not as much less likely as many people think

[Bostonbutterfly]

That's sweet. You two blessings!!

[Opinion Owner]

three blessings!

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Doctors claim that women age 35 and older have a higher risk
my maternal grandma was age 39 when she gave birth to my Uncle
he was born perfect but the woman age 42 just hit it lucky and now
has 4 wonderful babies oh wish I could be a dad it's amazing how
mother nature is but it happens right now my third cousin age 36
is pregnant and claims she is so sick with this baby she can't function

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Thanks for Most Helpful Guy :)

[driven159]

just pure luck or maybe pure unlucky lots of babies to take care of

[Bostonbutterfly]

I can imagine. It can be a blessing on one part but on another side, too much work.

[SnakeBoop]

It's so easily possible. She's not dead.
Reduced chances do not mean no chance.

[Recurrence]

I’m not aware that fertility really goes down that much once you hit forty. The statistics say “double or whatever” but the actual statistic is like.05%—>.1% so Technically it is a double

[Bostonbutterfly]

I think since more women are putting careers first and getting pregnant later, the body is getting used to giving birth later. The lady really thought she couldn't give birth anymore. She wasn't even trying and wow it happened.

[Anonymous]

Strange things can happen but it’s rare , usually taking clomid does that

[Bostonbutterfly]

The lady took no treatment at all. She wasn't even trying, didn't even think she was still fertile and it just happened. She's happy but surprised at the same time. Apparently 2 female relatives in her family had twins or more but the ladies were much younger than her.

[Opinion Owner]

My ex wife had triplets when she was 30 with me , twins does run in the family