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)