South African Woman Breaks World Record Giving Birth to 10 Babies at Once

A South African woman set a world record by delivering 10 babies at once on Monday, a record set just last month.

Gosiame Sithole, 37, gave birth to the decuplets in a hospital in Pretoria, confirmed as the world’s largest-ever live birth. Sithole’s husband, Teboho Tsotestsi, told Pretoria News that his wife gave birth to seven boys and three girls.

“She was seven months and seven days pregnant. I am happy. I am emotional. I can’t talk much,” Tsotestsi said.

During an interview in her home last month, the mom said that the pregnancy was natural, not the result of fertility drugs. She also said doctors initially told her that she was pregnant with sextuplets — six babies — before additional imaging revealed she was pregnant with eight babies. When she gave birth, there were actually 10 babies.

The government communications department is asking the public for help to find the family to verify the birth. Director-general Phumla Williams sent out a tweet asking for more information and tagged South African media outlet IOL. 

We have spent a better part of today tracing the story of @IOL of a woman having given birth to 10 babies! @IOL can you please help the public where this birth happened!

— phumla williams (@mirriamp) June 8, 2021

Mzwandile Masina, the mayor for Ekurhuleni, also tweeted, asking for help looking for the family to assist. She also tagged IOL, asking the outlet to give more information on the family’s whereabouts.

https://twitter.com/mzwandileMasina/status/1402316271190949888?s=20

Sithole broke the record set just last month by a Moroccon woman who gave birth to nine babies. Halima Cisse, 25, gave birth to four boys and five girls. Both mom and babies are doing well.