Woman Carrying Septuplets Appeals For Help

A woman carrying seven living fetuses is appealing for public donations, saying she’ll need financial help to raise her family.

“I’m seeking the support of everyone given the enormity of this event,” the 35-year-old woman was quoted as saying in Saturday’s El Pais newspaper.

Identified only as Rosario, the woman became pregnant with the aid of fertility drugs. She actually is carrying eight fetuses, but one died in the womb Thursday, apparently crowded out of food and space by its siblings, doctors say.

Rosario is 27 weeks into the pregnancy, and in good health, say doctors at Juan Ramon Jimenez Hospital in the southern city of Huelva.

Doctors had advised her to abort some of the fetuses to improve the chances of the rest, but she has declined to follow their recommendation.

Under Spain’s welfare system, Rosario will have free health care through birth and post-birth checks.

Little has been disclosed about her background, including whether she has other children or is married.

In 1985, a California woman gave birth to seven children, but only three survived. In September, a British woman who attempted to carry eight fetuses to term went into labor at 19 weeks and lost all of them.