Mother and quintuplets 'doing well'
Updated on 15 November 2007
A Russian woman is "recovering well" after giving birth to quintuplets, it has been announced.
The 29-year-old music teacher, whose identity has not been disclosed, gave birth 14 weeks early to the five girls in the early hours of Saturday at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.
The hospital said more than 18 doctors and nurses working in five teams were on hand when the girls were delivered by Caesarean section.
They range in weight from 1lb 13oz to 2lb 2oz and are said to be doing well.
The woman, who has been cared for by the Oxford Fetal Medicine Unit at the hospital, had contacted experts at the unit after refusing to under go selective terminations in Russia on religious grounds.
Live births of such a large number of babies are extremely rare, with the risks to the mother judged to be "considerable".
The majority either miscarry or the babies are born so early they cannot survive.
The mother was said to be particularly high risk and received intensive treatment to prevent her from delivering sooner.
Mr Lawrence Impey, who led her care, said: "I'm very pleased to be able to help this delightful family and that they asked the John Radcliffe Hospital to look after them.
"Mother is recovering well and the babies are doing well."
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