Artamkin Quintuplets,
Russian Quints born in UK
Artamkin Quintuplets - November 16, 2007
Artamkin Quintuplets
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A Russian couple who fled their homeland when doctors insisted on aborting at least two of their unborn quintuplets have seen all of their children delivered safely in an Oxford hospital.
Varvara, a 29 year old music teacher, gave birth to quintuplets, all girls, at 26 weeks, and ranged in weight from just 1lb 13oz to 2lb 2oz.
Last year, their first baby, a boy, died a month after being born prematurely.
The quintuplets, named Elizaveta, Alexandra, Nadezhda, Tatiana and Varvara, are the first to be born in the UK in five years.
Elizaveta, Alexandra, Nadezhda, Tatiana, Varvara Artamkin
Proud parents Varvara and Dimitri Artamkin with their five bundles of joy
"Our families are very religious people, Vavara's father is an archpriest and the church teaches that abortion is murder. Varvara and Dimitri wanted all their babies and they would not agree to such a condition," Dimitri Artamkin's grandmother said.
Both Dimitri and Vavara come from large families, Dimitri is one of nine and Vavara is one of four and between them they have thirteen nieces and nephews.
The couple had connections in Britain through Vavara's father, but were unable to travel there until they received a generous contribution from a group of Russian benefactors who have remained anonymous. The donors will pay for the care of the children and their parents until they return to Russia.
"For me, that they were born alive was a miracle. It was all in God's hands and I was elated. We will go to church and light a candle for each baby," said Dimitri's sister Maria.
UPDATE
2008/02/18 - Healthy and happy quintuplets on the way home
The procedure required a team of 18 doctors at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital working in teams of five, each delivering a baby and then rotating to the next team.
The couple, Dimitri and Vavara Artamkin, decided to come to Britain when doctors repeatedly refused to handle the quintuplets' delivery unless the couple agreed to abort at least two of their unborn children. They are Russian Orthodox and reject abortion as immoral.
