Healthy quintuplets born in UK
The quintuplets' mother with one of her babies at John Radcliffe hospital
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Thursday, 15, Nov 2007 01:27
A Russian woman has given birth to the first quintuplets to be born in the UK in a decade, according to hospital chiefs.
The 29-year-old music teacher gave birth to five girls via caesarean section 14 weeks early on November 10th at the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford.
Their weights range from 1lb,13oz to 2lb,2oz.
Live births of such a high number are rare and the risks to the mother are considerable.
The mother, who has asked not to be named, had been encouraged by Russian doctors to have selective terminations but she declined on religious grounds.
A team consisting of Professor Andrew Wilkinson and Dr Eleri Adams and 18 other doctors and nurses were present for the delivery and immediate management of the babies, who are now all in the intensive care nursery.
Two of the babies have been transferred to Queen Charlotte's hospital in London.
All five will be cared for in the UK until they are well enough to return to Russia with their parents.
The family's medical costs were met by a Russian group of philanthropists and staff at the John Radcliffe hospital agreed to work extra shifts.
"I'm very pleased to be able to help this delightful family and that they asked the John Radcliffe hospital to look after them," said Lawrence Impey, who specialises in caring for mothers with high-risk pregnancies.
"Mother is recovering well and the babies are doing well."