On Saturday 26th June, at 6:20 in the morning, Huda Ali Rashid, a 33 year-old patient from the village of Za’atarah, East of Bethlehem, gave birth to quintuplets, 4 girls and a boy.

Huda had been hospitalised under observation at Holy Family Hospital for the previous two months. Together with her doctor, she chose the hospital because it is the only maternity in the Bethlehem District equipped with a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Thanks to the excellent medical care and the psychological support she received at the Holy Family Hospital, it was possible to postpone the delivery until the 32nd week of pregnancy.

The delivery took place by caesarean section performed by Dr. Asfour and a team of 3 paediatricians, 2 anaesthetists, 3 midwives and 7 neonatal nurses who were at hand in case the babies needed assistance.

The babies (Haya – Raghd – Hala – Kinda – Samih), weighed between 1Kg125 and 1Kg353. They are all doing well.

This example illustrates the importance of delivering high risk cases and multiple pregnancies in a maternity centre equipped with a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, such as that at the Order’s Holy Family Hospital.

All the employees of Holy Family Hospital are proud of this event and a press conference was organized at the hospital on June 29th in order to announce this special event to the population.