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Dr Odile Bagot (Gynecologist-obstetrician)
According to a testimony published on the internet, a Nigerian woman gave birth last March to nonuplets, nine babies vaginally, all of whom are doing well today. Information or exaggeration? We sought the advice of a gynecologist.
Nine babies at once for one mother. This is the exceptional story collected and published by the site Hello Doctor Africa last October 13. According to the testimony of this mother of nonuplets, she thought she was giving birth to 5 children, an already significant pregnancy, when the doctors discovered that 4 other babies were also present, ready to be born. The six girls and three boys born in Nigeria in March are all reported to be in good health today. A family in truly XXL format.
A rare case, but not unique in the world
This exceptional birth of surviving nonuplets is not a first in medicine. A few months ago, a Malian woman also gave birth to nonuplets in Morocco. Previously, the record was held by an American woman, who had eight babies in 2009 thanks to in vitro fertilization and whose birth and indeed entire life was widely documented by the media.
Contacted on the subject, Dr Odile Bagot, gynecologist and member of our committee of experts, confirms the possibility of such an event, in theory.
“Nine babies is huge, but not impossible, in the context of IVF (in vitro fertilization). This would mean that when she was stimulated, the woman multi-ovulated, and everything was fertilized. It’s rare, it may be poorly conducted IVF, but it’s possible.”
But too many uncertainties to confirm this specific case
On the other hand, is the event real or not? Difficult to comment on the birth mentioned. The testimony in question does not provide enough information to verify this exceptional case. Worse, the information shared does not match reality, according to our expert:
“In the case of multiple births of this order, either they are extremely premature babies, non-viable and so small that the woman can actually deliver vaginally, or they are babies who reach full term and are viable, and It’s a cesarean section. From three babies, it is necessarily a cesarean section which is decided for safety for the babies. A full-term vaginal birth, with 9 out of 9 children in good shape, I don’t really believe it…”
Furthermore, the testimony does not mention the weight of the babies and their condition at birth, nor the medical equipment put in place, as is expected in this exceptional event, which may raise questions. For comparison, the previous birth of nonuplets in Morocco required very close and medical monitoring, and mobilized no less than 10 doctors and 25 paramedical employees. The weight of the babies and the care given in the special unit were also known.
Today, while the birth of nonuplets proves to be an extremely rare global medical event, the information reaching us does not allow us to conclude that there has been another exceptional birth.