Septuplet parents rejoice over their 'miracle'.

• Position: NEWS

The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa - An Iowa seamstress gave birth to four boys and three girls yesterday, listening intently as doctors told her the condition and sex of each child. It was only the second set of septuplets known to be born alive.

One boy was in critical condition after birth but his condition was upgraded last night to serious. His siblings were listed as serious.

Bobbi McCaughey's septuplets, born two months early by Caesarean section, weighed from 2 pounds, 5 ounces to 3 pounds, 4 ounces. A medical team of 40 specialists helped with the delivery.

"All the babies are so well-grown, so well-developed, it just strikes me as a miracle," said Dr. Paula Mahone, who helped perform the delivery at Iowa Methodist Medical Center.

It was only the second such birth in the United States. There are no known surviving sets of septuplets in the world.

The first baby - also the heaviest - was nicknamed "Hercules" because he "held all the others up" in a pyramid formation in the womb, Mahone said.

News of the delivery came from grandfather Robert Hepworth, who said his daughter was resting comfortably. "I'm probably one of the proudest grandfathers in this country at this moment," Hepworth said.

LUNG DEVELOPMENT

His namesake, Kenneth Robert, was born at 12:48 p.m. weighing 3 pounds, 4 ounces. Alexis May came next at 12:49, weighing 2 pounds, 11 ounces, followed by Natalie Sue, 12:50, 2 pounds, 10 ounces; Kelsey Ann, 12:51, 2 pounds, 5 ounces; Brandon James, 12:52, 3 pounds, 3 ounces; Nathanial Roy, 12:53, 2 pounds, 14 ounces; and Joel Steven, 12:54, 2 pounds, 15 ounces.

Joel had been the one in critical condition. All of them were on ventilators.

"It is not at all unusual for babies delivered at this stage of pregnancy to be in critical condition," said Dr. David Alexander, medical director of Blank Children's Hospital, where the infants will be cared for.

Alexander said it could be a few days before doctors determine how developed the lungs were. They also could not immediately determine whether any of the infants were identical.

"I would ask that all believers across the world join us in praying for Bobbi and for the babies that their health will continue and only improve," Hepworth said.

McCaughey was awake during the birth, and doctors told her the condition of each child.

"As we delivered each baby and saw the size of the babies and how vigorous they were, we were very, very happy," Mahone said.

From the delivery room, the babies...