21/05/2010

First Sextuplets Born In 17 Years

A mother has given birth to sextuplets, four boys and two girls, the first to be born in Britain for 17 years.

The babies are believed to be fighting for there lives in the neonatal intensive care unit of the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

The tots were born last Friday, 14 weeks early, and the mother, Vicky Lamb, is said to be recovering well.

Consultant neonatologist Dr Kenny McCormick said: "The next few days and weeks will be critical.

"Babies that are born this early need a lot of specialist care.

"They are receiving round-the-clock intensive care and specialist nursing at the moment and their condition is constantly monitored."

The couples representative, Max Clifford, said the parents were hoping for a "small miracle".

Mrs Lamb and her husband Andrew have asked to be left in peace to focus on their babies.

(CD)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

27 September 2012
Two Premature Babies Die In Hospital After Bug Outbreak
Two premature babies have died at a Staffordshire hospital as a result of an infection. A third baby is still in isolation after the outbreak at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire (UHNS).
05 December 2012
Survival Rates Of Premature Babies Increase
More babies born before 26 weeks are surviving, according to a detailed analysis of the figures for England. Severely premature babies were more likely to survive in 2006 than in 1995, the EPICure study found. There was, however, no improvement before 24 weeks - which is the legal limit for abortion.
21 February 2006
More babies born outside marriage
The number of babies born to unmarried mothers has risen dramatically over the past 25 years, a new report has shown. The annual Social Trends report conducted by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) found that the number of children born out of wedlock rose to 42% in 2004 from 12% in 1980.
18 March 2014
UK Doctors Criticise Rules Of Baby Organ Donation
Doctors at Great Ormond Street children's hospital are calling for the rules to be changed to allow parents to donate the organs of newborn babies who die, in the hope of saving the lives of other sick children.
05 January 2015
Babies To Be Tested For Rare Conditions
All babies born in England from today, 5 January, will be offered screening for more rare conditions, according to Public Health England (PHE). The screening is to prevent premature disability and death.