THE SEXTUPLETS born in a Belfast hospital on Friday are continuing to receive intensive care, the area health body has confirmed.
Four boys and two girls were safely delivered by Caesarean section at the royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital on Friday morning. A 30-strong medical team, which had been preparing for the delivery for some time, was involved in the births.
The parents, understood to have come from the Co Tyrone village of Dunamore, near Omagh, have been named locally as Nuala and Austin Conway.
However, the health trust which runs the maternity hospital where the children were born has maintained strict confidentiality concerning the family and the condition of the infants.
A statement released by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust at the weekend said: “The sextuplets born at Belfast’s Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital remain in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The parents have reiterated their request that their family privacy be respected. They will not be taking part in interviews nor will they be available for photographs or filming, at this time.” It is understood that the babies, who are 14 weeks premature, are the sole concern of the parents who have asked to be left alone.
Neonatal consultant Dr Clifford Mayes said on Friday the children had been conceived naturally.