Sextuplets born to Afghan woman

Topics: Afghanistan

Women in Afghanistan face incredibly difficult challenges surrounding childbirth.

(Credit: CBS News)

In one of the poorest nations in the world, Afghanistan's Sara Gul did the near impossible compared to her countrywomen: She gave birth to sextuplets.

The 22-year-old from Balkh province told Reuters she tried to abort after learning she was pregnant and carrying six children: three boys and three girls. That is about the same number of children that Afghan women have on average in their lifetime.

"I even jumped from a wall but nothing happened to them," Gul said from Mazar-e-Sharif, where the birth took place on Monday.

A maternity ward doctor said that five of Gul's babies were born healthy while the sixth one was underweight and under postnatal care.

Afghans' uphill battle begins with childbirth

Watch a CBS Evening News report from October on Afghans' uphill battle begins with childbirth below:

Back in October, CBS News reported on the struggles faced by Afghan mothers and their newborns. In the province of Badakshan, the maternal mortality rate is high: 6,500 mothers die per 100,000 births. The rate in the U.S. is only 13 per 100,000.

Augmented by the country's poverty and conflict, 1 in 4 children will die before they turn 5, according to Reuters.

Gul's 27-year-old husband Shukrullah, who is out of work, said: "Allah blessed me with six children, but I am worried about their future."

While maternity care is improving with additional beds and arrival of equipment, modern health care is still remote for the nation's people, said CBS News.

8 Comments +

Add a Comment


by nanaofmysky January 30, 2012 4:13 PM EST: Why do they not adopt at least 5 of the babies out. That way they at least have a chance at life. These babies other wise have no future at all. Was this a natural fertility or was there help? I've never heard of it happening naturaly. I am most likely wrong on it BUT!!!Poor babies (especially the girls)are going to be miss treated for sure.; Reply to this comment

by diamruby January 24, 2012 11:34 PM EST

Mass sterilization for all (free). Birth control is the answer to poverty. Children are the by product of sex, Stop uneducated, selfish men & women, from producing children to abuse.

Reply to this comment


by violist47 January 25, 2012 12:41 AM EST: What makes you think these children will be abused?


by karek40 January 25, 2012 9:18 AM EST: Naive

by credibility2 January 24, 2012 5:04 PM EST

Impoverished nations like this will continue being impoverished until something drastic is done about the over population, which makes the condition all the more tragic. The people are obviously too ignorant to practice birth control.

Reply to this comment


by PourpaixPourpaix January 24, 2012 5:47 PM EST: Actually, it's a survival technique, for if you have no children who grow up and take care of you when you get old, you're screwed when you can no longer work. Same as it was in this country before social security.