Two Women Deliver Sextuplets 10 Hours Apart

Two women delivered sextuplets 10 hours apart in two different states, according to the Associated Press.

On Sunday, right before midnight, Brianna Morrison, 24, delivered sextuplets -- four boys and two girls -- in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ten hours later, Jenny Masche, 32, also delivered sextuplets - three boys and three girls - in Phoenix, Arizona. The Masche births are the first successful delivery of sextuplets in the state of Arizona, according to the news release. Both women had used fertility treatments to increase the chance for successful pregnancy.

Morrison's babies, born at just over 22 weeks gestation, weighed between 11 ounces and 1 lb. 3 ounces. Due to their extremely early gestation, the sextuplets are listed in critical condition. In births at such an early gestation, many dangers exist - and underdeveloped lungs are common in preemies and multiples. The Morrison babies are named: Lucia Rae, Cadence Alana, Bennett Ryan, Tryg Benton, Lincoln Sean, and Sylas Christopher. Mother Brianna is recovering well. Father Ryan Morrison said in an issued statement that, "The babies arrived sooner than we'd hoped, but we are optimistic."

In Phoenix, Arizona, Jenny Masche, 32, delivered her sextuplets at 30 weeks gestation, beginning at 8:21 a.m. on Monday, June 11, 2007. According to the family website at www.maschemiracles.com the babies, three boys and three girls, will be named: Cole Robert, Blake Nikolas, Grant William, Savannah Jane, Bailey Elizabeth, and Molli Grace, although the proud parents have not designated who is who yet.

The babies weighed in between 2 lbs 1 ounce to 3 lbs. A day after their births, the website announced that the sextuplets are breathing on their own, and doing well. Right after birth, five of the babies were on ventilators. Mom Jenny is still in ICU at Banner Good Samaritan Hospital and also doing well, despite suffering acute heart failure, beginning with the first Cesarean birth at 8:21 a.m. Doctors had recommended a process called selective reduction in the Masche case, where some fetuses are aborted to increase the likelihood of survival for the remaining babies. But they were opposed to this option, and decided to keep all the fetuses.

According to the CNN.com article, the chance for sextuplets to be born is about 4.7 million, but the odds for multiple births occurring are heavily increasing due to the recent and continued use of fertility treatments to induce a successful pregnancy.

Associated Press, Sextuplet boom: 2 moms, 2 states, 12 babies, http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/06/12/sextuplet.boom.ap/index.html