A Houston woman gave birth to sextuplets - three boys and three girls - on Monday.
Lauren, 28, and David Perkins announced on their website last night that doctors at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston safely delivered their brood yesterday.
The children were born prematurely by scheduled C section, at just over 30 weeks, and the heaviest of them weighed two pounds, 15 ounces. The lightest was one pounds, ten ounces.
Mom: Lauren Perkins gave birth to sextuplets prematurely at 30 weeks but a statement on the family website said that mother and babies are well
Scan: An ultrasound showing 'Baby D' at 20 weeks
The six babies were delivered between 10.26am and 10.30am and are now in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Hospital officials would not comment on the specifics of their condition, but neonatologists say such low birth-weight babies are at particular risk for complications for weeks after delivery.
But the statement on the website said mother and babies are in stable condition.
Dr Sean Blackwell, head of the maternal-fetal medicine division of obstetrics-gynecology at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, told the Houston Chronicle that Lauren's longer-than-usual gestational period gives the sextuplets good chances of survival.
'Giving birth to three babies at 25 weeks is riskier than six babies at 30 weeks,' he said. 'Given today's miracles of neonatal-intensive care, I'd say those sextuplets have a good chance of survival and survival without problems.'
The couple were offered the chance of 'selective reduction' at the early stages of the pregnancy, meaning they could abort some of the babies in order to increase the chances of survival for the others.
On her website The Perkins Pack, Lauren wrote: 'We decided to go for all six and trust God with my health and the babies.
'I do not want anyone to think we took it lightly or that it was easy. It was the hardest decision we've ever had to make, and I don't wish it on anyone.'
The 28-year-old is a school psychologist who works with special needs children. Babies born prematurely are often at risk of having severe mental or physical disabilities.
The sextuplets were conceived using intra-uterine insemination with ovulatory stimulating drugs, according to the family's website and a hospital statement.
Baby bump: All babies weighed between 1lb 10oz and 2lbs 15 oz after being conceived using intra-uterine insemination with ovulatory stimulating drugs
Sextuplets: The heads of babies E and F at 21 weeks. The Perkins will hold a press conference once Lauren has had time to recover
Lauren and David had been trying to get pregnant for 18 months. They believe excessive running caused Lauren to skip her periods.
They did not release the children's names and requested privacy until they decide on a press conference at a later date.
A statement on their site from the beginning of the pregnancy explained how Lauren came to be expecting sextuplets.
Her husband wrote: 'That involved two weeks of shots and a couple of turkey bastings.
'There was a 25 per cent chance the procedure would work at all, and if it worked, a 25 per cent chance of twins.
'The odds went down from there on multiples, with a one per cent chance of sextuplets.
'After the two-week wait we found out Lauren was indeed pregnant, but with really high hormone levels, so an ultrasound was recommended to see what was going on.
'We knew something was up when we saw the doctor's jaw drop... he had seen six babies! Our feelings range from excited, overwhelmed, and scared, all at the same time.
'We are completely trusting God throughout this adventure and we appreciate all the prayers and support from our family and friends!!'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2134490/Woman-gives-birth-sextuplets.html#ixzz1szU3R6dq
