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...;

[wagglebee]

"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."

God Bless this family!

[wagglebee]

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[benjamin032]

I couldn’t be happier for total strangers. This is a very life-affirming story.

[trimom]

Amen and amen.

[Mom MD]

and great will be their reward in heaven - if there can be any greater reward than seeing their 5 daughters they fought for happily sitting at the feet of Jesus.

[wintertime]

The baby on the left has such a sweet little smile! :-)

[Lauren BaRecall]

They’re all over 3 pounds, so it sounds like they’re in good shape. They probably can leave the hospital in about three weeks. I love that smile on the face of the girl on the left. :o)

Doctors don’t tell parents that with selective abortion they run the risk of losing the ones who are left.

God bless these generous people! Both the parents, and those who took them in. There are still good stories about people who treasure life.

[pbmaltzman]

Maybe this is nitpicking, but it was always my impression that it's only women who get pregnant and give birth, contrary to the way this article is worded!

I also like the little girl's smile...

[wagglebee]

Maybe this is nitpicking, but it was always my impression that it's only women who get pregnant and give birth, contrary to the way this article is worded!

I'm confused about what you're saying.

[wagglebee]

There are still good stories about people who treasure life.

There are a lot more than people think, the media just chooses to ignore them.

[VeniVidiVici]

After reading the article I must say that I’m pleased “Russia” was only pressuring the woman to abort a few of the quints because the doctors weren’t sure all could be carried to a successful term.

Here in the U.S. we’d have liberal Democrats berating the women into have selective abortions because it would be a crime against Gaia to have so many children and increase the stress upon the Earth.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I think maybe the nitpicking was directed at this sentence:

"Dimitri and Varvara Artamkin, both Russian natives, gave birth to five girls..."

It is oddly worded, but it makes a kind of relational and spiritual sense. They both gave life, and in a sense, gave birth by supporting each other.

In pregnancy, childbirth, and taking care of a newborn, Oh! How often and how dearly I appreciated my husband!

[metmom]

I thought some of these European countries, Russia included, were actually paying people to have more kids. What’s up with this?

[tom h]

"I thought some of these European countries, Russia included, were actually paying people to have more kids. What’s up with this?"

A couple of things, I think. First, a predictable response against strong Christian sentiments. Second, a bogus expression of concern for the health and welfare of the mother and the living children. And third, a concern about medical expenses, both during and after birth and during the childrens' upbringing.

[pbmaltzman]

The article states that both the man and the woman were pregnant and gave birth.

I never knew that men could get pregnant or give birth.

[pbmaltzman]

That's great that (some) husbands (at least) help out their (pregnant or postpartum) wives and children.

But still, AFAIK, men don't get pregnant or give birth, so I found the article to be worded rather strangely.

[Regulator]

Interesting comment on Mr. Putin's so-called campaign to encourage a resurgence of births and family life in Russia.

Maybe some of his hold-out former Soviet docs didn't get the memo.

[8mmMauser]

Pinged from Terri Dailies

8mm

[Spacetrucker]

With all due respect, pregnancy is a shared event - by the grace of God, both parents are responsible for bringing forth the life, and both parents are responsible for caring for that life. The father may not share in the physical pain of childbirth (although some would say that pain will be inflicted at a later date) but in all other things they share.