In a rare and high-risk birth, a couple from Baldia Town, Karachi, has been blessed with quintuplets —three daughters and two sons — delivered prematurely via emergency C-section at a local hospital. The father, Adnan Sheikh, said this was the couple’s first pregnancy after one year of marriage.
According to doctors, the five babies were born at just 29 weeks of gestation — well before the typical full-term mark of 37 to 40 weeks — putting them in the category of extremely premature infants.
Each baby has a very low birth weight and required immediate oxygen support due to underdeveloped lungs, a common complication in preterm births. They are currently being cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where their condition is being closely monitored.
Hospital officials confirmed that while all five infants are showing signs of gradual improvement, the first few weeks remain critical. Premature babies born before 32 weeks are at a high risk of life-threatening complications including respiratory distress syndrome, brain haemorrhage, infections and long-term developmental delays.
“The birth of quintuplets is extremely rare and medically challenging for both mother and babies,” a neonatologist at the hospital told The News. “Survival and healthy development depend heavily on immediate neonatal support and ongoing specialized care.”
Adnan Sheikh, who works as a driver for a private company, expressed both joy and concern over the arrival of his children. “I am overwhelmed with happiness and praying for their health,” he said. He also confirmed that his wife’s condition is stable following the surgery.
Multiple births such as quintuplets often occur due to fertility treatments or genetic factors, but the family has not disclosed if any assisted reproductive techniques were involved in this case.
As the babies continue to receive intensive medical care, doctors remain cautiously optimistic but acknowledge that the road ahead remains uncertain. The family has requested prayers from the public for the well-being of all five newborns.