septuplets

Septuplets are seven offspring born from a single pregnancy. The term combines septem, the Latin for seven, with a suffix related to other high-order multiple births such as quadruplets and quintuplets. Septuplets can result from natural conception or from assisted reproductive technologies, but they are extremely rare in spontaneous pregnancies.

Incidence and causes: High-order multiples, including septuplets, occur far more often in pregnancies that involve fertility treatments such as ovulation-stimulating medications or in vitro fertilization with multiple embryo transfers. The vast majority of septuplet pregnancies are associated with assisted reproduction, though rare spontaneous cases have been reported. Maternal and fetal risks increase with the number of embryos presenting at once, leading to higher rates of preterm birth, placental problems, and growth restriction in the babies.

Pregnancy course and delivery: Septuplet pregnancies are managed as high-risk cases requiring close maternal-fetal monitoring. Because of the likelihood of preterm delivery and complications, cesarean delivery is common. Babies are usually born well before term, often in the early 30s weeks of gestation, and require intensive neonatal care.

Outcomes: Advances in neonatal medicine have improved the survival of septuplets and other high-order multiples, but outcomes vary widely. Survivors may face short- and long-term health challenges related to prematurity and low birth weight, including respiratory, neurological, and developmental issues.

Notable cases: The McCaughey septuplets, born in 1997 in the United States, are among the best-known early cases and were the first septuplets to survive infancy in the U.S. Since then, a small number of other cases have been reported worldwide.