Woman gives birth to quintuplets in Kogi after 18 years

A 42-year-old woman has been delivered of five babies (quintuplets) at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Lokoja, Kogi State, after 18 years of childlessness.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the woman, Mrs. Uchenna Okeigbo, and her kids were in good condition.

Okeigbo, an indigene of Olokoro Amangbo Community in Umuahia South Council of Abia State, gave birth to three boys and two girls on April 17 through Caesarean Section (CS).

Mrs. Okeigbo expressed gratitude to God for the rare gift, saying her wait for 18 years did not end in vain, adding that it is not easy to have five children at once, just as she showered praises on her husband for standing by her.

The quintuplets- three boys and two girls, weighed 1.3kg 1.6kg, 1.7kg, 1.8kg and 1.9kg, respectively.

Father of the quintuplets, Mr. James Okeigbo, 47, an employee of a private establishment, who was overwhelmed with joy, described the coming of the babies as the happiest moment of his life and his wife as well.

“I thank my wife for retaining her respect for me for this 18 years of childlessness without quarreling with me. I am also grateful to her family for standing by us,” Okeigbo said.

He, however, solicited for assistance from government and the public to ensure adequate care for the five children.

Consultant, Obstetrician and Gynecologist at FMC, Lokoja, Dr. Grace Ogoke, who handled the delivery of the quintuplets, gave glory to God for the feat, disclosing that she delivered the babies on Wednesday April 17, through a CS about, 11:45 pm, which coincidentally was her own wedding anniversary day.

“The three boys came first and the one that first came out has the least weight of 1.3kg. The baby is put under observation inside an incubator, because he weighs less than 1.5 kg, but the baby is active,” Ogoke explained.

She explained that the couple approached the FMC when they were seeking for the fruit of the womb with lots of investigations, noting: “After going through all their investigations, I saw that they would need to be assisted, that spontaneous pregnancy, medically-speaking, might not be achievable, and I advised them to be assisted.

“The procedure for the assisted reproductive technology through In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) was successful and the doctor referred them back to her for management of the pregnancy.

“I feel very happy and I give glory to God for seeing us through, because it was like all of us are pregnant during the pregnancy. This is my first time of taking delivery of quintuplets, the highest I have taken was three.”

The Chief Medical Director of the Centre, Dr. Olatunde Alabi, said experienced gynaecologist and pediatricians were deployed to manage the woman from pregnancy to delivery, being the first time quintuplets would be delivered at the hospital.