Arabic version: امرأة إثيوبية تحتفل بقدوم خمسة توائم بعد انتظار طويل

An Ethiopian woman has given birth to rare quintuplets in the Harari Regional state after 12 years of trying for a baby. Bedriya Adem, 35, expressed her overwhelming joy at being “blessed with five children at once”. The birth took place at Hiwot Fana Specialised Hospital, where she delivered four boys and a girl, all reported to be in “full health”.

According to BBC News, the hospital’s medical director, Dr. Mohammed Nur Abdulahi, confirmed that both the mother and her newborns are under medical care. The quintuplets weighed between 1.3 and 1.4 kg (3 lb), and Dr. Abdulahi noted a high chance of survival for babies weighing over a kilogram.

Remarkably, Bedriya conceived naturally, without the assistance of in vitro fertilization (IVF), which the hospital does not provide. The odds of conceiving quintuplets naturally are estimated at one in 55 million. The birth was conducted via Caesarean section on Tuesday evening, and Bedriya received regular medical care throughout her pregnancy.

Initially, she was informed that she was expecting four babies, but was surprised to welcome a fifth at delivery. Reflecting on her journey, Bedriya shared her past struggles with infertility and the psychological toll it took on her. “I spent 12 years in pain, hiding myself, and praying constantly for children – at last, Allah heard me,” she stated.

Despite her joy, Bedriya expressed concerns about providing for her new family, as she is a subsistence farmer. However, she remains hopeful, believing that community and government support will help her through this new chapter. The quintuplets have been named Naif, Ammar, Munzir, Nazira, and Ansar, which Bedriya refers to as her “five blessings.”