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Afghan mother in 'extremely rare' sextuplets birth | Afghan mother in 'extremely rare' sextuplets birth |
(about 1 hour later) | |
By Bilal Sarwary BBC News, Kabul | |
An Afghan mother has given birth to six children at a hospital in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif. | An Afghan mother has given birth to six children at a hospital in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif. |
The woman was not aware she was carrying more than one child and had not received fertility treatment. | The woman was not aware she was carrying more than one child and had not received fertility treatment. |
Doctors say the mother arrived in hospital on Monday and gave birth on the same day to three boys and three girls. It was her first pregnancy. | Doctors say the mother arrived in hospital on Monday and gave birth on the same day to three boys and three girls. It was her first pregnancy. |
Doctors say that having six children without fertility treatment is extremely rare. | Doctors say that having six children without fertility treatment is extremely rare. |
Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world. | Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world. |
'Brave' | 'Brave' |
The mother, named as Sharah, 24, arrived in Mazar-e-Sharif hospital from a remote village in Balkh province. | The mother, named as Sharah, 24, arrived in Mazar-e-Sharif hospital from a remote village in Balkh province. |
Provincial Health Director Mirwais Rabi told the BBC that all six babies are well but under-weight, with one only weighing about 700g (25oz). | Provincial Health Director Mirwais Rabi told the BBC that all six babies are well but under-weight, with one only weighing about 700g (25oz). |
Mr Rabi said the sextuplets were being kept inside incubators and a special team of nurses and doctors are looking after them. | Mr Rabi said the sextuplets were being kept inside incubators and a special team of nurses and doctors are looking after them. |
The mother is said to be in good health but exhausted. | The mother is said to be in good health but exhausted. |
Doctors say that had they been aware that she was carrying six children, she would have been in hospital at least several days in advance. | Doctors say that had they been aware that she was carrying six children, she would have been in hospital at least several days in advance. |
Sharah's story has made headlines on Afghan television and radio stations. | |
"She is brave, she is amazing," one resident said, "I don't know how she carried six children. The government should help her now." | "She is brave, she is amazing," one resident said, "I don't know how she carried six children. The government should help her now." |
A 2010 survey revealed that infant and under-fives mortality rates appeared to be decreasing. | A 2010 survey revealed that infant and under-fives mortality rates appeared to be decreasing. |
Experts say that despite recent improvements, Afghanistan remains one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a pregnant woman or a young child. | Experts say that despite recent improvements, Afghanistan remains one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a pregnant woman or a young child. |
One in 10 children in Afghanistan still dies before they are five years old, the survey said. | One in 10 children in Afghanistan still dies before they are five years old, the survey said. |