Ndlangisa had initially struggled to fall pregnant and was prescribed ovulation drugs by Dr. Moeng Pitsoe. Ten days later she was pregnant and was told she was expecting triplets, possibly even quadruplets.
During her pregnancy only three babies were visible on the scans and Ndlangisa and hubby Joe Buthelezi were told they were expecting three babies.
However, during the time she went into labour, as doctors did a final check, they discovered another baby’s head. And then another one, making them five.
“It was emotional. When the fourth one came it was emotional. Not that I didn’t want her, it’s just that I didn’t know,” Ndlangisa told TimesLIVE just days after the unexpected arrivals.
Baby Sindisiwe was the smallest, weighing in at 1.27kg, while Siyanda – the only boy – weighed in at 1.64kg. Sbahle, Simosihle and Slindile were all under 1.5kg at birth.
Doctors said the babies would be released as soon as all of them weighed 2kgs. Pitsoe said he expected the quins to be released at the end of October, but the little ones continue to exceed expectations and ended up being released just six weeks after their birth.
The quintuplets have all been discharged from hospital, with the approval of their doctors at the Clinix Botshelong Empilweni Private Hospital in Vosloorus.Prudence.
Staff at the hospital named the quins the ‘big five’ after the babies all had healthy birth weights despite being born at 31 weeks.
In a statement to TimesLIVE a spokesperson said the babies are “home with their parents who are settling into the routine of caring for the babies.”
The parents of the babies look forward to a new start with their family and have thanked friends and family, hospital staff as well as generous sponsors for thei support.
