Aaron, Priscilla, Matilde, Joel and Isaac Real-Mayorga, were born to proud parents Veronica Mayorga-Real, 30, and Enrique Mayorga, 33, of Humble, beginning at 2:23 p.m. The babies' weights range from just over two pounds to nearly four pounds.
The infants were delivered via Cesarean section by a team of 23 physicians, nurses and respiratory therapists working in two operating rooms. They were born at nearly 30 weeks--7 weeks premature--however, they are in good condition and unusually healthy for their prematurity.
"Higher-order multiple-birth babies are often born very early and can be extremely sick; however, Mrs. Mayorga-Real had a fairly problem-free pregnancy, and was able to carry the infants much longer than most quintuplet mothers," said Lara Friel, MD, PhD, OB/GYN and maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital and assistant professor of OB/GYN and maternal-fetal medicine at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. "It is amazing for each baby to grow so well when there are five fetuses."
The babies currently are in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; however, they are on no support besides oxygen and two already are breathing on their own, according to Ursula Nawab, MD, neonatologist at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital and assistant professor of neonatology at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.
"They are doing remarkably well; they now just need to take small steps like eating on their own and gaining weight," said Dr. Nawab, who expects the infants to be in the hospital for approximately eight weeks.
Veronica and Enrique also are parents to Fernando, 8; however, Veronica struggled to conceive for nearly five years after Fernando's birth.
After briefly using fertility drugs, they were shocked to discover Veronica was expecting quintuplets.
"At first, I thought we were having twins and, when I found out there were five babies, I cried," Veronica said. "It was just disbelief and then joy. We are very blessed."