Sextuplets born to Afghan woman

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.