Woman gives birth to quintuplets in Manila

MANILA, Philippines – A 27-year-old housewife from Cavite gave birth last Sunday to five babies – the first quintuplets born alive in the country, doctors at a government hospital reported yesterday.

Lorita Barrera gave birth through Caesarian operation at the government-owned Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital at 11 a.m. the other day.

Dr. Jolynne de Leon, resident pediatrician, said the babies were born prematurely and are in unstable condition.

“Two of the five newborns are now in critical condition, while the other three, although improving, remain unstable,” De Leon told The STAR in a telephone interview.

She said it was the first recorded case of quintuplet birth in the country, with all the babies alive.

The babies remain confined in the intensive care unit (ICU).

“They are in distress because they were premature, and two of them are likely suffering from pneumonia,” De Leon said.

She said the two babies had already been given appropriate medication, and doctors were waiting to see if the infants would respond to treatment.

She expressed hope that all the babies would survive.

“It really depends on the condition of the infant, but some premature babies have survived, and hopefully the quintuplets will also,” De Leon said.

The babies were not yet given names but doctors referred to them as babies A, B, C, D and E.

De Leon said Baby A weighs 1.2 kilos; Baby B, 1.35 kilos; Baby C, 1.2 kilos; Baby D, 1.4 kilos; and Baby E, 1.05 kilos.

She added that Babies B and E are hooked to a respirator.

In need of help

Doctors said they have a good chance of surviving as long as they would not develop an infection.

She said they need steroids, which cost around P25,000, for the treatment of the babies’ lungs.

Barrera said she and her husband, Gary Fernandez, 37, were expecting quadruplets, but were surprised with another baby.

“We are happy with our quintuplets, but we are worried on how we could be able to raise them as both of us are jobless,” she said in Filipino.

Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral said they would provide the family financial support, including medical assistance and milk for the infants. – With Helen Flores