Small-Town Iowa Woman Gets Ready for Birth of Septuplets

CARLISLE, Iowa —  A secret kept here for at least four months has leaked out: Bobbi McCaughey is expecting seven babies.

The 29-year-old stay-at-home mom has entered her 28th week of pregnancy, when doctors believe the fetuses have reached a viable stage.

There are no known living sets of septuplets in the world; the last septuplet birth in the United States was in Orange, Calif., in 1985, but not all of those babies survived.

Although McCaughey’s due date is not until mid-January, the babies could come at any time before the full gestation period of 40 weeks. She went into the hospital Oct. 15, and husband Kenny said the babies could be delivered next week.

Bobbi McCaughey had been taking the fertility drug Pergonal.

Bobbi McCaughey issued a statement from the hospital thanking well-wishers for their concern.

Kenny McCaughey said all of the fetuses are in good condition and each weighs more than 2 pounds.

Kenny McCaughey said doctors suggested aborting some of the fetuses early on to improve the others’ chances of survival, but the couple “decided to let God decide the outcome and give all seven an equal chance.”