Sextuplets Bring Population Boom to Smalltown Kansas

The population of Rago in Kansas grew by 50% overnight after a woman using fertility drugs gave birth to sextuplets on Saturday.

Mother Sondra Headrick, 33, and her husband Eldon, 32, are now parents to three baby boys and three baby girls, all of of whom appear to be healthy, according to doctors in nearby Wichita.

The births will no doubt go down in local folklore. Rago has a population of just 12 and was founded in 1883.

Mrs Headrick spent 93 days in hospital before the births, which took place 31 weeks into the pregnancy. The couple had been told by doctors that the pregnancy could be aborted or reduced by four to give the two remaining foetuses a better chance of survival, but both options were rejected.

The babies were delivered by Caesarean section by a 24-strong medical team. Doctors said they went ahead on Saturday - nine weeks early - because they feared for the health of one of the children.

The babies weighed between 2lb 10oz (1.19kg) and 3lb 11oz (1.67kg). Four were being kept on a respirator and the other two were on oxygen but doctors said they were doing well.

"It is a miracle the mother was able to hold on to the babies as long as she did," said Dr Katherine Schooley. "I anticipate all the babies are going to do very beautifully."

The babies have been named Ethan Roy, Melissa Sue, Grant Douglas, Sean Edward, Jaycie Linette and Danielle Patrice. They are expected to stay in hospital for four to six weeks.

The couple already have a four-year-old daughter.

The births are only the 96th set of sextuplets known to have been born since records began in 1900, according to doctors.