A young Co Wexford mother who gave birth to quintuplets on Thursday at the Rotunda maternity hospital in Dublin was described by the hospital yesterday as "healthy and happy".
"The babies are currently doing well, considering their size and prematurity," a statement from the Master, Dr Peter McKenna, said.
News of the three boys and two girls born to Veronica and Kevin Cassidy from Bridgetown was warmly welcomed in the village amid some concern for the quins' health.
The babies were delivered at "25 weeks and five to seven days" by Caesarean section at 8.30 p.m. on Thursday evening, the Rotunda confirmed. They weighed between 600 g and 780 g (1 lb 5 oz to 1 lb 11 oz).
The heaviest, a boy, Conor James, weighed 780 g at birth, and the lightest, a girl, Amy Dorothy, was just 600 g. The other three children, Cian Richard, Rory Kevin and Dearbhail Mary, weighed 740 g, 765 g and 695 g respectively.
"The quins are doing well," Dr McKenna said. "They have the sort of complications that can be anticipated with premature babies. The second baby, Amy Dorothy, is having the most difficult time as would be expected from her size."
The birth of quintuplets is an extremely rare phenomenon. Obstetricians estimate the average chances under natural birth conditions as about one in 41 million.
The use of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and infertility treatments as common procedures in recent years has reduced the odds significantly, however. "I have never encountered quintuplets before in my professional life," said the Master of the Rotunda.
At home in Bridgetown yesterday, neighbours and friends of the family spoke of their joy.
The local curate, Father Danny McDonald, said they had been praying and keeping their fingers crossed for both Veronica and Kevin, who moved into their new house in the village a year ago.
"This has brought great joy to the parish. It has been a trying period for the young couple and we have been praying for them each day," he said.