(I was having problems with the web page where I read this, so here is the text from it.)
BELLFLOWER, Ca. - A mother at Kaiser Medical Center in Bellflower gave birth to octuplets on Monday morning, doctors said. It is believed to be only the second time in history that live octuplets have been born and survived more than a few hours. The mother, who did not want to be identified, delivered six boys and two girls via cesarean section at 30 weeks' gestation, Kaiser doctors said.
The first, a boy, was born at 10:43 a.m. and the last, also a boy, was born at 10:48 a.m. The number of babies came as a surprise - the doctors were expecting seven. "Lo and behold, after we got to Baby G we were surprised by the discovery of Baby H," said Dr. Karen E. Maples, Kaiser's chief of obstetrics and gynecology, who helped deliver the babies. Dr. Harold M. Henry, chief of maternal and fetal medicine at the hospital, said "Baby H" was overlooked in the ultrasound. "It is quite easy to miss a baby when you're anticipating seven babies," Henry said. "Ultrasound doesn't show you everything."
Born nine weeks premature, the heaviest baby was 3 pounds, 4 ounces and the lightest was 1 pound, 8 ounces. All were in stable condition, though two had breathing problems and were placed on ventilators, doctors said. The delivery had been "dry rehearsed" several times and involved a team of 46 people, doctors said. The team saw it as a good sign when the first boy was born kicking and crying, Henry added.
Hospital officials would not release any information about the mother, including her name, condition or whether she used fertility drugs. They also did not release any photos of the newborns on Monday. Dr. Mandhir Gupta, a neonatologist who helped in the delivery, said the next 72 hours will be a critical period for the newborns. They will probably remain in the hospital for least two months, depending on any possible complications, he said.
The mother, whose babies added up to nearly 18 pounds, checked into the hospital in her 23rd week of pregnancy and gave birth seven weeks later. Gupta said she is planning on breastfeeding. "She's a very strong woman, she should be able to care for all of them," he said.
The first live-born octuplets were born in Houston in 1998, and one baby died about a week later. The surviving siblings - girls Ebuka, Gorom, Chidi, Chima and Echerem, and their brothers Ikem and Jioke - celebrated their 10th birthday in December. Their parents, Nkem Chukwu and Iyke Louis Udobi, said they are astonished and grateful that their children have grown up to be healthy and active youngsters who are now in the fourth grade.
Chukwu told The Associated Press that the parents of the newest octuplets have much to look forward to. "Just enjoy it. It's a blessing, truly a blessing," Chukwu said. "We'll keep praying for them."
This is the second higher-order multiple birth at Kaiser Bellflower in a year. Last August, 23-year-old Whittier resident Vanessa Duarte gave birth to quadruplets. The babies, two boys and two girls, were born healthy.
BELLFLOWER OCTUPLETS
Here's the birth order, gender and weight of each of the Bellflower octuplets, according to Kaiser doctors:
10:43 a.m. - Baby A, boy, 2 pounds, 11 ounces
10:44 - Baby B, girl, 2 pounds, 12 ounces
10:45 - Baby C, boy, 3 pounds, 4 ounces
10:45 - Baby D, girl, 2 pounds, 8 ounces
10:46 - Baby E, boy, 1 pound, 8 ounces
10:47 - Baby F, boy, 2 pounds, 12 ounces
10:47 - Baby G, boy, 1 pound, 15 ounces
10:48 - Baby H, boy, 2 pounds, 11 ounces
BELLFLOWER, Ca. - A mother at Kaiser Medical Center in Bellflower gave birth to octuplets on Monday morning, doctors said. It is believed to be only the second time in history that live octuplets have been born and survived more than a few hours. The mother, who did not want to be identified, delivered six boys and two girls via cesarean section at 30 weeks' gestation, Kaiser doctors said.
The first, a boy, was born at 10:43 a.m. and the last, also a boy, was born at 10:48 a.m. The number of babies came as a surprise - the doctors were expecting seven. "Lo and behold, after we got to Baby G we were surprised by the discovery of Baby H," said Dr. Karen E. Maples, Kaiser's chief of obstetrics and gynecology, who helped deliver the babies. Dr. Harold M. Henry, chief of maternal and fetal medicine at the hospital, said "Baby H" was overlooked in the ultrasound. "It is quite easy to miss a baby when you're anticipating seven babies," Henry said. "Ultrasound doesn't show you everything."
Born nine weeks premature, the heaviest baby was 3 pounds, 4 ounces and the lightest was 1 pound, 8 ounces. All were in stable condition, though two had breathing problems and were placed on ventilators, doctors said. The delivery had been "dry rehearsed" several times and involved a team of 46 people, doctors said. The team saw it as a good sign when the first boy was born kicking and crying, Henry added.
Hospital officials would not release any information about the mother, including her name, condition or whether she used fertility drugs. They also did not release any photos of the newborns on Monday. Dr. Mandhir Gupta, a neonatologist who helped in the delivery, said the next 72 hours will be a critical period for the newborns. They will probably remain in the hospital for least two months, depending on any possible complications, he said.
The mother, whose babies added up to nearly 18 pounds, checked into the hospital in her 23rd week of pregnancy and gave birth seven weeks later. Gupta said she is planning on breastfeeding. "She's a very strong woman, she should be able to care for all of them," he said.
The first live-born octuplets were born in Houston in 1998, and one baby died about a week later. The surviving siblings - girls Ebuka, Gorom, Chidi, Chima and Echerem, and their brothers Ikem and Jioke - celebrated their 10th birthday in December. Their parents, Nkem Chukwu and Iyke Louis Udobi, said they are astonished and grateful that their children have grown up to be healthy and active youngsters who are now in the fourth grade.
Chukwu told The Associated Press that the parents of the newest octuplets have much to look forward to. "Just enjoy it. It's a blessing, truly a blessing," Chukwu said. "We'll keep praying for them."
This is the second higher-order multiple birth at Kaiser Bellflower in a year. Last August, 23-year-old Whittier resident Vanessa Duarte gave birth to quadruplets. The babies, two boys and two girls, were born healthy.
BELLFLOWER OCTUPLETS
Here's the birth order, gender and weight of each of the Bellflower octuplets, according to Kaiser doctors:
10:43 a.m. - Baby A, boy, 2 pounds, 11 ounces
10:44 - Baby B, girl, 2 pounds, 12 ounces
10:45 - Baby C, boy, 3 pounds, 4 ounces
10:45 - Baby D, girl, 2 pounds, 8 ounces
10:46 - Baby E, boy, 1 pound, 8 ounces
10:47 - Baby F, boy, 2 pounds, 12 ounces
10:47 - Baby G, boy, 1 pound, 15 ounces
10:48 - Baby H, boy, 2 pounds, 11 ounces
