Babies born safely

Babies born safely

BANDUNG (JP): Twenty-seven-year-old Elidawati gave birth
yesterday to Indonesia's first quintuplets through cesarean
section at Borromeus Hospital.

The babies -- two males and three females -- were born in the
32nd week of pregnancy within a one-minute interval of each other
during the 45-minute operation. Obstetricians/gynecologists Eddy
Haswidi and Duddy Natraprawira said the babies and their mother
were in good condition.

The babies' weight and height, respectively, were 1.4 kg/38
cm, 1.35 kg/37 cm, 1.4 kg/38.5 cm, 1.45 kg/38 cm, and 1.4 kg/38
cm. They will remain in the incubators for 2 months, the doctors
told reporters.

Also in attendance yesterday were pediatricians Marsudi Rasman
and Sanjaya Sutaji, who once assisted a quintuplet birth in
Germany but believed Elidawati's case was unique and more
complicated.

The German quintuplets were the result of an insemination
program, whereas Elidawati's pregnancy was natural, Sanjaya said.

Though born healthy, Sanjaya said the babies have yet to pass
their critical period, which is three days.

Elidawati and her husband, Hastadi Wahyu, already have a 7-
year-old son. Hastadi said he wished President Soeharto would
name the newborns. (17/26)