Stacey Carey, Pennsylvania Mom, Gives Birth To Sextuplets

They say good things come in threes, but Stacey Carey's "miracle" came in sixes.

The Pennsylvania mom and husband Brendan welcomed sextuplets into the world last week -- three boys and three girls. In total, 60 people at Abington Memorial Hospital were involved in the cesarean deliveries, which were performed at 27 weeks, according to CNN.

"As the doctors have already explained, the pregnancy and the delivery were very risky and complicated, but with their superior guidance, we made it through, and now we're blessed with six beautiful babies," Stacey Carey said at a Monday press conference. "We already have a 16-month-old daughter, so now our family of nine is complete!"

The six babies -- Emma, Samantha, Olivia, John, Patrick, and Conner -- are all currently in critical condition and remain on ventilator support.

They are "not out of the woods," said Dr. Gerard Cleary. It's "far too early to make predictions," according to Patch editor Mischa Arnosky.

Multi-birth pregnancies often come with high risks including low birth weight, mortality and a greater risk of cerebral palsy. Stacey Carey had undergone fertility treatments and was hospitalized since the 21st week of pregnancy, according to CBS station KWTV.

The risk of multiple births is more than one in three for women who undergo fertility treatments and successfully become pregnant, depending on the type of treatment and other factors, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Multi-birth greatly increases the risk of premature birth; ASRM reports half of all twins and 90 percent of all triplets are born premature, putting them at an increased risk for infection, brain development problems, cerebral palsy and death.

Multi-births can also increase the mother's risk of pregnancy-related complications, including high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, according to the March of Dimes. 

Pennsylvania is home to another set of sextuplets -- the television-friendly offspring of Jon and Kate Gosselin.

For more information on the risks associated with fertility treatments and multiple births, visit www.marchofdimes.com and www.asrm.org.

Comments

[PreacherThug]

11:36 PM on 06/14/2011

I can't imagine giving birth is as painful as women always say it is.
I would think that it might almost tickle.

[daradar]

08:23 PM on 06/09/2011

I wish the family well, but I wish there were strict guidelines for doctors to follow to prevent extreme multiple births from happening. I believe the actions of the doctors involved in these cases are malpractice. The doctors should be reprimanded from their state Medical Boards. Many European countries have strict guidelines and do not have the problem with extreme multiple births.

[Peji]

08:31 PM on 06/09/2011

more than reprimanded - they knew perfectly well how this tragedy was likely to unfold. I say they lose their right to "practice" medicine - they've practiced enough.

[daradar]

08:54 PM on 06/09/2011

Agreed

[Peji]

09:17 PM on 06/08/2011

I wish everyone would concentrate more on those poor infants. If some welfare Mom had put 6 of her children into the hospital barely alive on ventilators she would go to jail. And if some Doctor performs a treatment that put 6 babies in the hospital in pain and misery on ventilators - he/she would go to jail. This is a criminal act... There MUST be laws enacted barring the use of IVF or IUI unless the parents are willing, for the sake of the CHILD(ren), to limit the birth to 2 babies. No using God to rationalize using modern medicine and then using God again to justify poor medical decisions. No miracles here, folks, just a terrible, terrible criminal act that has put 6 helpless babies into a hideous state requiring hospitalization and pain, pain, pain.

[Mickey Markoff]

05:09 PM on 06/08/2011

Is she related to Octomom?

[peegan]

01:51 AM on 06/08/2011

First and foremost and most importantly, I hope these babies have a happy and healthy life. Now for my rant. I am sick of cases like this. It is irresponsible and totally avoidable. If this was IVF then you do not implant that many embryos at one time. If it was fertility drugs, you monitor the mothers reaction to them with a sonogram. If too many follicles mature to release eggs, you bypass that cycle, cut back the dose, and try again. A doctor and parents first responsibility is to do everything they can to ensure a safe pregnancy and healthy baby. Having to deliver these six babies at 27 weeks means they failed catastrophically in this. These babies will have serious medical issues, maybe even lifetime medical issues. Why, why when the technology and information is available to avoid these dangerous pregnancies that are all but guaranteed to produce a bad, perhaps tragic result would a doctor and parent allow it to happen?

[Kelly Jade]

09:00 AM on 06/08/2011

I'd fan you again if I could.

[cdnbystander]

09:26 AM on 06/12/2011

Thank you!.

[dreamboat83]

11:48 PM on 06/07/2011

Not to push my tree hugger thoughts on any of you...but when i read the article I can only think of six perfect little babies fighting to survive and no matter the cost I do not mind paying my share..and for all anyone knows the husband could have a rich uncle

[katylied]

12:25 AM on 06/08/2011

Do you feel the same way about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?

[dreamboat83]

08:34 AM on 06/08/2011

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by that...pay my share of a war that has taken millions of innocent lives..or pay for the damage to a country and the health care of thte poor babies that are missing limbs and burned from top to bottom..no i don't mind paying for any person in the countries that we destroyed..and what exactly does iraq and afghanistan have to do with my comment..

[bds6543]

11:30 PM on 06/07/2011

OMG......not another Kate Goslin!! When will these people STOP using those fertility drugs???? This is getting out of hand.. I hope they are wealthy or get their own reality show. Kate Goslin seems to be doing very well financially..This is just not natural.....and someone needs to put a stop to this ethical dilemma. and "test tube" babies.

[daughter of evil]

11:08 PM on 06/07/2011

Oh great, another Kate Gosselin in the making.

[ohslimgoody]

10:27 PM on 06/07/2011

Is she related to Kate Gosslin?

[ecurbwl]

10:06 PM on 06/07/2011

Doctors playing God and they "fu**ed up once again with multiple births. One would have thought Nadia Sullerman would have been the last time this would happen. I'm hoping the husband has a great paying job with job security because the taxpayers cannot afford to support any more mistakes.

[pandora1979]

10:05 PM on 06/07/2011

I agree with most of the comments on here. Some of you keep implying it is better to help her than someone who does not have a job and keeps reproducing any way. Personally I dont like supporting any of them. I do think this family was selfish to bring six lives into the world unnaturally when they already had a healthy daughter. Not only did they risk that childs right to grow up with a mother but they also brought six babies in the world that may or may not suffer with medical conditions yet unknown. The medical bills alone for six healthy babies can be overwhelming let alone ones in critical condition. So whether they have jobs or not someone else will be paying that bill. And to think that money could have been used else where. Like maybe a couple who had their children naturally and one has cancer, autism, or a heart condition. Where will their help come from now?They are the middle class family that will be told they make to much money and still cant pay the bills. But when you purposely get pregnant with multiples you know the chances of them being born with a medical problem is high. Why would you do that? And if you can handle children with disabilities then why would you potentially create children with them instead of adopting one of the thousands that are already here? Open your hearts people but also use your head.

[emilyschwinabart]

11:13 PM on 06/07/2011

VERY well stated.

[katylied]

12:59 AM on 06/08/2011

Pandora, allow me to be your first fan. Nicely done. ;)

[Bobcheesedoodle]

09:59 PM on 06/07/2011

Often with these multiple-baby births, the babies are deprived of oxygen to their brains. When they grow up. they watch Glenn Beck and join the Tea Party.

[ir2fun4u]

09:37 PM on 06/07/2011

My twins were conceived naturally... no treatments just a big suprise.... anyway good luck to this family

[casjane1]

09:29 PM on 06/07/2011

I forgot to ask who's gonna pay for all those doctors etc? I hope they have good insurance.

[casjane1]

09:27 PM on 06/07/2011

Why does artificial insemination have to be multipal births? Why can't they just make ONE (1) baby?

[emilyschwinabart]

11:21 PM on 06/07/2011

Because the person seemingly cant conceive naturally they assume it may be an issue with implantation, so they send in a few extra already fertile (zygotes?) (its like shooting a whole bunch and hoping you hit whatever your aiming for), that also goes for some zygotes could separate and become natural identical twins. so they could send four fertile eggs in and two could separate making 6 babies. Your right though they shoulda left it alone at one egg.

[cdnbystander]

09:35 AM on 06/12/2011

It's easier to control with IVF, as you can do a single embryo transfer.