(21 Dec 1998) English/Nat
The world has welcomed the first known surviving set of octuplets.
Nkem Chukwu delivered five girls and two boys by Caesarean section on Sunday in Houston, Texas.
Another sister from the same group was born two weeks ago.
Doctors say the babies are critically ill, but in a stable condition.
Inside the walls of St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, history has been made.
On Sunday, after a 45-minute Caesarean section, Nkem Chukwu delivered seven babies - five boys and two girls.
The babies joined their two-week old sister, born naturally on December 8 - allowing her brothers and sisters extra time and room in the womb.
Ranging from 11 ounces to nearly two pounds, the octuplets have become the world's first known surviving set of octuplets.
Doctors are hopeful they'll all survive but stress the importance of the coming days.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"At this gestational age you can expect an 85 per cent survival rate. And although that is a statistical number and we don't want to apply it to this group and, you know, cut one or two out, it is a good number to go with. These babies are critically ill and we do have a lot of hurdles to get over and there is going to be some ups and downs in that critical course over the first week or two especially."
SUPER CAPTION: Dr. Patty Savrick, Primary Care Paediatrician
Doctors say the 27-year-old mother is stabilising after surgery to stop internal bleeding, a side effect of nine weeks of labour-delaying drug therapy.
After their birth in an operating room at St. Luke's, the babies were whisked one by one down the corridor to the neighbouring Texas Children's Hospital.
It took 30 medical personnel to assist in the deliveries - seven of the eight babies are on ventilators to help them breathe.
The chief neo-natal specialist says he'll be looking for specific problems in the immediate future.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well I think at this point our big concern is making sure they're getting enough oxygen, making sure that their blood pressures are OK and making sure that their fluids are appropriate. So .. some basic intensive care support.''
SUPER CAPTION: Dr. Leonard Weisman, Chief of neonatology, Texas Children's Hospital
The babies' parents had tried to keep the birth quiet but once news of their arrival was leaked, the media arrived complete with satellite trucks.
The babies' mother is a Nigerian native living in Houston with her husband Ike.
Doctors say she could be out of the hospital by the end of the week.
Chukwa had been taking fertility drugs - she conceived triplets last year, but lost them midway through the pregnancy.
Doctors say she was willing to do whatever was necessary to increase her babies' chances for survival.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Mum is a remarkable woman. She would go to any lengths to prolong this pregnancy and to have gotten the outcome that she had. For the last two weeks, the Mum has been upside down, her head lower than her feet, with total bed rest, willing to deprive herself of eating if that in fact would increase the amount of space available for the babies. Willing to make tremendous sacrifices and to go to any lengths to prolong this pregnancy."'
SUPER CAPTION: Brian Kirshon, Obstetrician
The octuplets are expected to spend the next two or three months at the hospital before they can go home.
They are the couple's first children.
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