Ethiopian Woman Gives Birth to Rare Quintuplets After 12 Years of Infertility Struggle
A 35-year-old woman in Ethiopia’s Harari Regional State has given birth to rare quintuplets after spending 12 years trying to conceive, bringing joy to her family and amazement to doctors.
Bedriya Adem delivered four boys and one girl at Hiwot Fana Specialised Hospital through a Caesarean section on Tuesday evening. Hospital officials confirmed that both the mother and the babies are in good health.
The newborns, weighing between 1.3 and 1.4 kilograms each, remain under medical observation alongside their mother. According to the hospital’s medical director, Dr. Mohammed Nur Abdulahi, babies born above one kilogram generally have a strong chance of survival and healthy growth.
Doctors said the pregnancy occurred naturally without the use of in vitro fertilisation (IVF), making the birth even more extraordinary. Medical experts estimate that the chances of naturally conceiving quintuplets are approximately one in 55 million.
“I cannot express my happiness in words,” Bedriya said as she described the emotional pain she endured during more than a decade of infertility. “I prayed for just one child, and Allah gave me five.”
The first-time mother revealed that she had struggled with emotional and psychological pressure from her community because she was unable to have children. Although her husband already had a child from another marriage, she said she continued to suffer silently while praying for a family of her own.
“What I endured in the past feels like a distant dream,” she said. “I spent 12 years in pain, hiding myself, and praying constantly for children. At last, Allah heard me.”
Doctors initially informed Bedriya that she was carrying four babies, but a fifth child was discovered during delivery. The quintuplets — named Naif, Ammar, Munzir, Nazira and Ansar — have been described by their mother as her “five blessings.”
Hospital officials praised Bedriya for attending regular medical check-ups throughout her pregnancy and receiving proper prenatal care.
While celebrating the rare birth, Bedriya admitted she is concerned about supporting her enlarged family, as she works as a subsistence farmer. However, she remains hopeful that her community and government will help her raise the children.
The remarkable story has drawn attention across Ethiopia and beyond, with many describing the birth as a miracle after years of heartbreak and waiting.
