Quintuplets Born in UK in Defiance of Medical Pressure to Abort

LifeSiteNews ^ | 1/4/08 | John Connolly

[wagglebee]

OXFORD, January 4, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The quintuplets of a Russian couple were born in the UK after doctors in Russia denied them care unless they aborted some of them.

Dimitri and Varvara Artamkin, both Russian natives, gave birth to five girls at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford last month. Each of the babies now weighs 3 pounds 3 ounces, and they have been separated since birth so they can undergo incubation in two hospitals.

Dmitri, a mathematics professor, says that the children are each a gift from God.

"We believe God has given them to us as a gift and sent us here, to Britain, to give them the best possible chance," he said. "We don't yet know when we'll be able to take them home - it depends on the progress they make. But we're praying it will be soon."

Dmitri and Varvara come from strong religious backgrounds; both were brought up in the Russian Orthodox Church. They tried to have a baby but were unable to during the first seven years of their marriage. They eventually tried fertility treatments, and were surprised when they discovered that they were pregnant with five children instead of one.

"We love children so much and have always wanted to have lots," said Varvara, a music teacher. "We both come from big families so to us, having lots of children seems normal. I am one of four children, Dimitri is one of nine, and we have 13 nephews and nieces. We have always been surrounded by children and we prayed to God to send us children. What happened to us last year was very sad but we always believed we would have another chance."

"We were very happy when we first found out but we couldn't celebrate because the doctors told us straight away that it would be impossible to have all of them," said Dimitri. "Then all we could feel was worry."

The couple refused to have selective abortion, and because of that were turned away by most Russian doctors due to the risk to Varvara that was posed by so many children being born at once.

"We just said no as soon as they told us. We prayed to be given children and God granted our prayer - to kill them would be totally against everything we believe," said Dimitri. "We go to church every week and believe very strongly in our faith. Varvara's father is a priest in the Russian Orthodox church. For us, having the abortions was not even an option. It was a frightening and sad time for us but we knew we had to have all the babies. We could see all of them on the ultrasounds and each one was a little person. It was not something we even had to discuss."

The quintuplets, named Elizaveta, Alexandra, Nadezhda, Tatiana and Varvara, are the first to be born in the UK in five years. The parents are waiting for them to be strong enough to all be gathered together again. They were very thankful for the amount of support that people have shown them in the past weeks.

"The people we have met since being in this country have been fantastic," said Varvara. "The level of care the babies have received is amazing and strangers have been so kind in sending us gifts. We want everyone here to know how thankful we are. We are a little overwhelmed by all the attention but we know we have everyone's best wishes."

The couple had the babies baptized the day after their birth and their families are planning a big  celebration and to help with childcare when they return to Russia. Both Dimitri and Varvara say that they would like to have even more children, although both hope eventually to return to  their jobs.

Russian Couple Flees to Britain to Save Their Unborn Quintuplets from Abortion
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/nov/07111610.html

Parents Have Quadruplets After Having Twins Two Years Ago
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/dec/07122107.html ;

Couple Chooses Life and Sextuplets
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/jun/07061207.html &nbs...;

[pbmaltzman]

Believe me, I'm all for fathers taking responsibility and sharing in child-raising as much as possible. And yes, I'm sure that most people experience at least some pain along with the joy of raising kids (whether at the time of birth or later).

But with all due respect, men don't get pregnant or give birth; and it's not HIS body that gets huge and stretched out. HE's not the one who is worried that his OWN body won't get back to its pre-pregnancy slimness, although some men sure as heck worry that their wives won't get slim enough again (to suit the guy).

I've overheard women talking about being pregnant and then losing the weight.... a lot of women might like being pregnant, but they're also worried about having a larger body... because in this culture, having a large body is assumed to not be as attractive as having a small body. They worry about stretch marks. They worry about the husband's attitude toward them.

A long time ago, I was eating lunch with my then-boyfriend in a restaurant somewhere. At the next table, I overheard some guy talking with a male friend of his. I gathered that the guy was probably in some kind of professional sports.

He was bitterly complaining because his wife wasn't yet back to her pre-pregnancy figure (it was something like maybe six months)? I guess it was all about HIM, and his need for a trophy--or (gag) maybe I'm just too sensitive.

Men like him make me almost GLAD I never married. Sheesh--to have some guy standing over me, scrutinizing every ounce of weight I gained or lost, and every ounce I ate--I'd rather live with cats and dogs, thank you very much.

I read somewhere that when the wife gets pregnant, that can be a time when some men stray and have affairs.

[Spacetrucker]

You shouldn’t have eaten the apple... ;=)

[pbmaltzman]

Haha... Yup, it’s all personally MY fault for what was allegedly done in the Garden of Eden. Blame it all on the women. Just like a typical man...

[Spacetrucker]

"Haha... Yup, it’s all personally MY fault for what was allegedly done in the Garden of Eden. Blame it all on the women. Just like a typical man...

---

Again, with all due respect, that was meant as a JOKE

[Spacetrucker]

"Haha... Yup, it’s all personally MY fault for what was allegedly done in the Garden of Eden. Blame it all on the women. Just like a typical man...

---

Again, with all due respect, that was meant as a JOKE...it was an attempt to lighten the mood, and in NO WAY was directed solely at you. As is apparent, you have been hurt by a man/men in your life, and I am sorry that you are unable to differentiate between light comedy and personal attacks. Have a wonderful day, and please get that chip off your shoulder - it will make you walk crooked...

[pbmaltzman]

Wow... you must be psychic! I make ONE remark on this BBS, and you immediately assume you know my WHOLE LIFE STORY! Wow... you put words in my mouth that weren't even there. What other paranormal abilities do you possess? (And yes, that was sarcasm.)

FYI, I do know the difference between humor and other things (such as sarcasm), and I do have a sense of humor. However, I also have seen situations where men blame women for everything, and although they think they're cloaking it in humor, they're still blaming women for some of their own failings.

Yes, I have my share of aches and pains from the school of hard knocks... but I suspect most, if not all, people do. And, BTW, I walk pretty straight and tall. I'm not bent over with that imaginary chip you seem to think is there.

[Spacetrucker]

"...I make ONE remark on this BBS, and you immediately assume you know my WHOLE LIFE STORY! Wow... you put words in my mouth that weren't even there. I never assumed anything about your life other than what you made apparent in your postings. ...However, I also have seen situations where men blame women for everything, and although they think they're cloaking it in humor, they're still blaming women for some of their own failings. And you dare harangue me for assuming to know your life? Again, nothing I said went any further than what you put in your own postings. ...Yes, I have my share of aches and pains from the school of hard knocks... but I suspect most, if not all, people do. And, BTW, I walk pretty straight and tall. I'm not bent over with that imaginary chip you seem to think is there. Once more, you make the obvious more apparent - that chip is there for all to see. I apologize for the confrontational tone of this posting, but when you attempted to belittle my comment in posting #20, I felt like you were trying to put me on the defensive - that is a rather liberal tactic when they don't like the terms of the debate, and it tends to bring out the worst in me. I will not repost on this topic again, and I wish you the best in your life.

[pbmaltzman]

Actually, I wasn't trying to belittle your reply in #20... I am glad to see that at least *some* men are good fathers, and I have complimented personal guy friends for it.

Once again, you assume to know all about me from very little information. Do I resent some men? H3ll yes, but certainly not all of them.

And by the way, I'm NOT a liberal. Go smear someone else.

[pbmaltzman]

...that is a rather liberal tactic when they don't like the terms of the debate,

And on this BBS, it seems that some "conservatives" use the tactic of smearing any woman who doesn't have the main goal in life of finding the "right" man to obey.

I'm not married, but if my live-in boyfriend tried to act as if he owned me, I guarantee he'd be out on the street, on his @$$, in a heartbeat. I did have to deal with that kind of crap growing up (plus physical and emotional abuse), and I've never put up with it in the years since leaving home.