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Doctor says newborn octuplets appear healthy

Doctors Karen Maples, left, with Harold Henry, right, and Mandhir Gupta take questions at a news conference at the Kaiser Permanente Bellflower Medical Center in Bellflower, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 26, 2009. In the hospital south of Los Angeles, a mother gave birth to eight babies, the world's second live-born set of octuplets. The mother, who asked not to be identified, gave birth to six girls and two boys weighing between 1.8 pounds and 3.4 pounds. (Associated Press)
Associated Press
BELLFLOWER, Calif. — Newborn octuplets in Southern California are a feisty bunch that appear healthy even at nine weeks premature, a doctor said Tuesday. Three babies are being given oxygen but appeared to be doing well, said Dr. Mandhir Gupta, a neonatologist at Kaiser Permanente Bellflower Medical Center. Two of the newborns were initially on ventilators but no longer need them. At least four could be ready for their first oral feeding later Tuesday. “All babies were delivered vigorous, crying, kicking. Everyone was very excited,” said Dr. Karen E. Maples, chief of service for obstetrics and gynecology and the physician who personally delivered Baby No. 8. The mother, who has not been identified, gave birth Monday to the six boys and two girls weighing between 1 pound, 8 ounces, and 3 pounds, 4 ounces. She was resting comfortably Tuesday and was elated at welcoming eight children to her family, Gupta said. The eighth baby surprised the parents and doctors who had prepared to deliver seven children. “It is quite easy to miss a baby when you’re anticipating seven,” said Dr. Harold Henry, chief of maternal and fetal medicine and one of 46 doctors, nurses and assistants who delivered the children by Caesarean section. Two of the newborns — the second live octuplets born in U.S. history — were initially put on ventilators but were later removed. The mother checked into the hospital in her 23rd week of pregnancy. Hospital officials would not say whether she had used fertility drugs, which make multiple births more likely. The babies — dubbed with the letters A-through-H — will probably remain in the hospital for at least two months and the mother could be released in a week. The world’s first live octuplets were born in March 1967 in Mexico City, but all died within 14 hours, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. The United States’ first live octuplets were born in Houston in 1998, three months premature. The tiniest died a week after the birth. The surviving siblings turned 10 in December.