Sextuplets first in UK for quarter of a century

Published on Saturday 23 May 2009 18:59

A YOUNG mother who gave birth to the first sextuplets in the UK since 1983 was yesterday promised plenty of support when she returns home to her small rural community.

Nuala Conway from the Dunamore area of Co Tyrone in Northern Ireland gave birth to four girls and two boys at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital.

Yesterday's successful Caesarean section birth – which involved 30 medical staff – was 14 weeks early and the babies are now in intensive care. The four girls and two boys weighed 1lb 7oz to 2lb 2oz and their condition was yesterday described as being "as good as could be expected".

Nuala and husband Austin, married in 2006, are in their twenties. Few in their community knew they were expecting a multiple birth until it was announced by hospital staff.

But yesterday, a local councillor, Sinn Fein's Sean Clarke, said: "I would say it is the only topic of conversation around here today. Everyone would wish them all the very best.

Nobody knows the experiences that lie ahead for them. This is a first really. But they will have great family and community support."

The births are the first sextuplets in the UK since the Waltons, all girls, born in Liverpool in 1983. Sextuplets occurs in about one out of 4.5 million pregnancies.