A South African woman has given birth to 10 children at a go, breaking the world record that had been created by a Malian woman who welcomed nonuplets a few months ago. Thirty-seven-year-old Gosiame Thamara Sithole gave birth to the decuplets on the night of Monday, June 7; the mother had expected to give birth to eight children as an antenatal scan had shown but two more babies were found during delivery
Seven Boys, Three Girls
According to a report by Pretoria News and other news outlets, Thamara delivered her seven boys and three girls through a caesarian section in a Pretoria hospital. She is now a mother of 12 as she already has six-year-old twins. According to her husband, Teboho Tsotetsi, the woman’s pregnancy was completely natural as she was not on any fertility treatment. The father said: “We now have seven boys and three girls. She gave birth at seven months and seven weeks.” In an interview a month ago before delivery, the now-mother of 12 said she was shocked to be informed she was giving birth to multiples. Tough pregnancy
Tough pregnancy
A scan at the beginning of the year showed she was carrying sextuplets but further scans later showed she had octuplets. The other two babies could not be detected during her gestation period as they were in the wrong tube.
“My pregnancy was tough at the beginning because I was mostly sick. I don’t feel the pain anymore, but it’s still a bit tough. I just pray for God to help me deliver all my children in a healthy condition,” she said in the interview.
She recalled how she became sceptical when she was informed she was expecting multiple children adding she also feared their chances of survival would be compromised. Her husband, who is currently unemployed said he was excited to welcome his decuplets into the world.
“I felt as if I was one of God’s children but I could still not believe it. I cannot wait to hold them in my arms,” he said.