Mccaughey Septuplets

A story on the McCaughey septuplets helped ABC's "PrimeTime Live" deliver its biggest audience of the season last week, based on results issued Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research. NBC's Thursday lineup accounted for the top five programs in an otherwise ho-hum week that saw viewing of all four major networks decline compared to the corresponding period a year ago.

A woman has given birth to the first set of septuplets born in the United States since 1997, after choosing months ago not to "selectively reduce" the number of fetuses she was carrying, doctors at Georgetown University Hospital announced Friday. The five boys and two girls, born 12 weeks prematurely Thursday night, were all in critical but stable condition because of dangerously low birth weights, ranging from 2.2 to 2.4 pounds, doctors said.

The world's first glimpse of Dr. Paula Mahone came last year on the afternoon of Nov. 19, just hours after she delivered seven babies in six minutes and helped make medical history. She sat at a table in an auditorium at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Hundreds of reporters demanded an answer: How did this happen? "I would have to consider it a miracle," Mahone told them. A miracle?

Two of the 17-month-old McCaughey septuplets are growing so slowly that there's concern they may have cerebral palsy, their mother said. Although Nathan and Alexis are being monitored for the disorder, their pediatrician is not ready to make a diagnosis, Bobbi McCaughey said. "While there are some signs of something that could be long-term, they don't have to mean that," she said, according to Sunday's Des Moines Register. "They could just be muscle issues."

The first-born of the McCaughey septuplets, nicknamed "Hercules" because he held up his brothers and sisters in the womb, had surgery to fix blood vessels in his right eye. Kenneth Robert McCaughey, who was also the first of the septuplets to leave the hospital, had the surgery Jan. 11 at University Hospitals in Iowa City, said his grandfather, Robert Hepworth. The baby was released from the hospital the following day.

About 6,000 people--nearly double the town's population--toured a 6,400-square-foot house in Carlisle that will be home to the McCaughey septuplets, born last year on Nov. 19. After Bobbi and Kenny McCaughey became parents of the world's first living set of septuplets, scores of businesses and residents contributed materials, services, money and land to build them a new home. At the housewarming, a line of curiosity-seekers extended five blocks to tour the seven-bedroom, 4 1/2-bath house.

The first of the McCaughey septuplets was sent home, six weeks after the babies were born. Kenneth, weighing 5 pounds, 4 ounces, was released from the children's hospital at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. The other six McCaughey babies are in fair condition, said a hospital spokeswoman. Doctors have said they hope to send them home by the end of January. Three girls and four boys were born Nov. 19 to Bobbi and Kenny McCaughey of Carlisle. They are the world's only living set of septuplets.

The youngest of the McCaughey septuplets has been put back on a ventilator in what their doctor called a "very typical" precaution. Joel Steven was strong enough to breath on his own for a few hours Sunday but soon grew tired and was placed back on the ventilator that night. His condition, which had been upgraded to fair, returned to serious. "He's getting some needed rest and responding very well to that," said Dr. Robert Shaw of Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines.

Two of the 17-month-old McCaughey septuplets are growing so slowly that there's concern they may have cerebral palsy, their mother said. Although Nathan and Alexis are being monitored for the disorder, their pediatrician is not ready to make a diagnosis, Bobbi McCaughey said. "While there are some signs of something that could be long-term, they don't have to mean that," she said, according to Sunday's Des Moines Register. "They could just be muscle issues."

Excerpts from a WBS-Talk parent chat room about Kenny and Bobbi McCaughey's septuplets in Des Moines. * jacksonb: Bobbi McCaughey said they got the astonishing news during an ultrasound examination, when the doctor told her there are seven babies in there. She thought God was punishing her. * Denise780: Wouldn't you, if you were 29 and having seven children at one time? LOL * jacksonb: She and her husband Kenny will have to get used to it. They will have to accept it as a gift.

About 6,000 people--nearly double the town's population--toured a 6,400-square-foot house in Carlisle that will be home to the McCaughey septuplets, born last year on Nov. 19. After Bobbi and Kenny McCaughey became parents of the world's first living set of septuplets, scores of businesses and residents contributed materials, services, money and land to build them a new home. At the housewarming, a line of curiosity-seekers extended five blocks to tour the seven-bedroom, 4 1/2-bath house.

The world's first glimpse of Dr. Paula Mahone came last year on the afternoon of Nov. 19, just hours after she delivered seven babies in six minutes and helped make medical history. She sat at a table in an auditorium at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Hundreds of reporters demanded an answer: How did this happen? "I would have to consider it a miracle," Mahone told them. A miracle?

A story on the McCaughey septuplets helped ABC's "PrimeTime Live" deliver its biggest audience of the season last week, based on results issued Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research. NBC's Thursday lineup accounted for the top five programs in an otherwise ho-hum week that saw viewing of all four major networks decline compared to the corresponding period a year ago.

With their father grinning and their mother crying, the world's first surviving septuplets were together at home Sunday after the last two babies were released from a hospital. Natalie and Alexis McCaughey joined their brothers and sister, who came home in January, in a small three-bedroom house in Carlisle, where about 60 volunteers work shifts to care for the babies.

The first-born of the McCaughey septuplets, nicknamed "Hercules" because he held up his brothers and sisters in the womb, had surgery to fix blood vessels in his right eye. Kenneth Robert McCaughey, who was also the first of the septuplets to leave the hospital, had the surgery Jan. 11 at University Hospitals in Iowa City, said his grandfather, Robert Hepworth. The baby was released from the hospital the following day.

The first of the McCaughey septuplets was sent home, six weeks after the babies were born. Kenneth, weighing 5 pounds, 4 ounces, was released from the children's hospital at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. The other six McCaughey babies are in fair condition, said a hospital spokeswoman. Doctors have said they hope to send them home by the end of January. Three girls and four boys were born Nov. 19 to Bobbi and Kenny McCaughey of Carlisle. They are the world's only living set of septuplets.

Slumbering peacefully in seven incubators, the McCaughey septuplets passed their first day outside the womb Thursday in surprisingly good health, unaware as a nation showered their suburban Des Moines family with money, flowers, quilts and a monster van big enough to ferry a Scout troop.

A woman has given birth to the first set of septuplets born in the United States since 1997, after choosing months ago not to "selectively reduce" the number of fetuses she was carrying, doctors at Georgetown University Hospital announced Friday. The five boys and two girls, born 12 weeks prematurely Thursday night, were all in critical but stable condition because of dangerously low birth weights, ranging from 2.2 to 2.4 pounds, doctors said.

The world's only living set of septuplets, born a month ago to Bobbi and Kenneth McCaughey, are thriving in the hospital and are expected to be released late next month, the family said in Carlisle. The parents and 22-month-old Mikayla are expected to spend a quiet Christmas morning with Kenneth's parents and the afternoon with Bobbi's parents. Mother and father are also expected to visit the babies at the hospital, as they have been doing every day.

The world's only septuplets turned 4 weeks old and got an agent to handle their publicity. Their first major job, the agent said, will probably be a television documentary centered on the Christian faith of their parents, Bobbi and Kenny McCaughey, and their supportive neighbors in the Iowa town where they live. The four boys and three girls born on Nov. 19 were still in fair condition at Blank Children's Hospital.