Guinness World Record set as South African woman gives birth to 10 babies

Birth of 10 twins sets world record. 

A South African woman has just given birth to 10 babies breaking a World Record previously held by Halima Cisse, a Malian woman giving birth to nine children in Morocco as of May. 

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South African local media gave her name as Gosiame Thamara Sithole, and she is aged 37. The cesarean section operation saw her deliver seven boys and three girls, a record she now holds of the most children birthed by one woman at a single go. Sithole comes from Tembisa Township in Ekurhuleni in Gauteng where she works as a retail store manager.

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She earlier gave an interview but requested a delay in publication over safety and local cultural concerns. At first, it was hard to believe, and only the scans convinced her it was actually true. She said she went through sleepless nights worrying over her unborn children. Among her concerns were whether they would fit in her womb or if they would survive. She expressed what was a “miracle” and the children remained in the womb without facing “any complications.”

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At first, the couple expected 8 babies but the number was revised after as two babies had missed the initial scan. Speaking to local media, Sithole said she was shocked by her pregnancy, even going further to admit that it was tough at the beginning. 

In a conversation with Pretoria news, Sithole’s husband Tsotetsi revealed that his wife gave birth 29 weeks into the pregnancy. He further revealed that the pregnancy was all-natural and no fertility treatment was used. Tsotetsi is unemployed and told journalists that he also has 6-year old twins. 

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According to Professor Dini Mawela, the school of medicine deputy head at  Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University described the incidence as “rare”, describing the pregnancy as “high risk” and adding that the children would remain for the next few months in an incubator. She further explained that gave two scenarios about such pregnancies, nature, or fertility treatments. In the latter case, many eggs are injected to increase the chance of conception under the argument that some will die anyway. However, there are times when they all survive.

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In May last year, a Mali woman gave birth to nonuplets. The 25-year old woman identified as Halima Cisse was airlifted by the Mali government to Morocco. The woman comes from the northern part of the West African state. At first, she was believed to be carrying seven babies. 

Before Cisse, American Nadya Suleman gave birth to eight children in 2009.