Quintuplet mother healthy

BANDUNG, West Java (JP): While the world mourns Briton Mandy Allwood's recent miscarriage of three of her octuplet fetuses, a local woman is entering her 31st week of pregnancy with healthy quintuplets.

Elidawati, 27, took an ultrasound test at Borromeus hospital here yesterday afternoon.

Sources at Borromeus hospital told The Jakarta Post that Elidawati was healthy, but under constant monitoring in the Elizabeth wing of the hospital.

They said a special team had been assigned to oversee the pregnancy. It includes obstetrician Eddy Haswidi, gynecologist Duddy SN, pediatricians Kelly Munazar and Sanjaya, anesthetist Marsudi Rasman and other medical staff from the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit.

According to reports, Elidawati used to take fertility medication five times a day because she desperately wanted a second child.

Sister Putu Sri Rahni said doctors were expecting the mother to give birth in the next few weeks, and that they would wait until the fetuses were suitably grown before operating.

"The team of doctors will wait until the fetuses each weigh about 1.5 kilograms. Right now they are approximately 1.3 kilograms. If everything goes as expected, the delivery will be through a caesarean operation," she said. (mds)