A 35-year-old woman has given birth to rare quintuplets after spending 12 years trying to conceive.
Bedriya Adem and her husband from Ethiopia’s Harari Regional State were said to be celebrating the arrival of their five babies — four boys and a girl — whom she described as “blessings”.
The babies were delivered at Hiwot Fana Specialised Hospital and are reportedly in good health. According to hospital authorities, each of the newborns weighed between 1.3kg and 1.4kg.
“I cannot express my happiness in words,” Bedriya said, explaining that she had long struggled emotionally while hoping to become a mother.
Medical director of the hospital, Dr Mohammed Nur Abdulahi, said both the mother and babies were receiving medical attention following the Caesarean delivery carried out on Tuesday evening.
He explained that babies born above one kilogram generally have a strong chance of survival and healthy development.
The doctor also disclosed that the pregnancy occurred naturally, without the aid of in vitro fertilisation (IVF), noting that the hospital does not provide IVF services. Naturally conceived quintuplets are considered extremely rare, with estimates placing the odds at roughly one in 55 million.
According to Mohammed, Bedriya attended regular antenatal appointments throughout her pregnancy and had been informed she was carrying multiple babies.
“She received regular medical care during her pregnancy and was informed that she had conceived more than one baby. She had full and proper medical assistance throughout,” Mohammed said, as he described her “excitement”.
Bedriya revealed that doctors initially told her she was expecting four babies before the surprise arrival of a fifth child during delivery.
“I prayed for just one child, and Allah gave me five,” she said.
The first-time mother also spoke about the emotional pain she experienced over the years because of her inability to conceive, despite her husband already having a child from another marriage.
“He used to tell me that having [the other child] was enough and that I should not worry, but deep inside I was suffering – psychologically and emotionally – as the entire village questioned my inability to giver birth,” she said.
Reflecting on her years of waiting, she added: “What I endured in the past feels like a distant dream, one I do not even want to recall.
“I spent 12 years in pain, hiding myself, and praying constantly for children – at last, Allah heard me.”
Bedriya, a subsistence farmer, admitted she was uncertain about how she would cater for her expanded family, but remained optimistic.
“But I believe Allah will provide, through the support of my community and the government,” she said.
The babies have been named Naif, Ammar, Munzir, Nazira and Ansar.
(BBC)
