US sextuplets alive and well

The world's first recorded case of surviving set of sextuplets have been born in the United States. Doctors say the four boys and two girls are doing well.

The births took place at an Iowa hospital last night. The parents, Kenny McCaughey, 27, and his Bobbi, 29, have already named their babies who weigh between 2lb 5oz and 3lb 4oz.The babies are Alexis May, Natalie Sue, Kelsey Ann, Brandon James, Nathaniel Roy and Joel Steven.

Mrs McCaughey had been taking the fertility drug Pergonal which was prescribed because she and her husband had difficulty conceiving the first child, Mikayla. Mr McCaughey and his wife were advised early in the pregnancy to abort some of the fetuses. But they said their religious belief would not allow that.

There are believed to be no surviving sets of septuplets in the world.

- Kim Sengupta