Mother gives birth to sextuplets
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Sextuplet Nolan Benjamin Van Houten, born Friday, is cared for at Spectrum Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan (AP) -- A woman pregnant with sextuplets has given birth to the five remaining babies more than a week after delivering the first, a hospital official said Saturday.
The four boys and two girls were three months premature.
Amy Van Houten delivered four babies Friday and one Saturday morning, Spectrum Hospital spokesman Bruce Rossman said. All were in critical condition, weighing between 1 pound, 4 ounces and 2 pounds, 1 ounce.
The babies' names are Gerrit Calvin, Samantha Clair, Nolan Benjamin, Peyton Scott and Kennedy Alexis. John Paul, who was born January 7 and weighed 1 pound, 8 ounces, also was listed in critical condition.
"The Lord just blessed us abundantly," said father Ben Van Houten, a 29-year-old machine builder. "Six little wonderful darling children that from (our) perspective seem to be really healthy. From the doctor's perspective, they're in critical condition."
The mother, a 26-year-old teacher, was in fair condition but tired, the hospital said.
Van Houten used fertility drugs to become pregnant. She and her husband learned of the pregnancy in September, and the mother has been hospitalized since early December on bed rest.
Complications after multiple births often involve the proper formation of the heart, lungs and brain.
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