When Manita Singh began to feel labour pains at just 26 weeks pregnant, she was understandably worried about the health of her unborn baby.
The 25-year-old Indian woman had given birth to a stillborn son two years earlier and was fearful history was repeating itself.
However Manita’s fear soon turned to shock as she gave birth to not one but five baby girls within 30 minutes of each other on Saturday morning.
The arrival of the quintuplets, who each weighed between 1 and 1.5kgs, was a surprise as Manita hadn’t had any ultrasounds during her pregnancy.
Commenting on the quintuplets, her husband Manish said, “We were heartbroken when we lost our first child two years ago. I believe God has compensated the loss. I only hope that they all survive and I can give them a wonderful life.”
Dr Tekam, who oversaw the delivery of the babies at local government hospital in Ambikapur in Eastern India, said: “This is the first case in my career where I have delivered five babies through normal birth.”
“We are very happy for the parents but the babies are under supervision as they all are premature.”
“While they are healthy, we cannot say if they will survive.”
“However, we are doing every bit to save them.”
The quintuplets are being cared for in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.