sextuplets

Sextuplets are six offspring born from a single pregnancy. The term applies whether all six are carried to term and delivered alive, or whether some do not survive around birth or shortly afterward. Most sextuplets arise when the mother releases multiple eggs or when assisted reproductive technologies lead to multiple embryos. In rare cases all six babies can be monozygotic, if a single embryo splits multiple times, but most sextuplets are fraternal multiples from several eggs fertilized in the same cycle. The incidence of sextuplets is extremely low in natural conceptions, while rates have risen with fertility treatments.

Pregnancies with six fetuses are at high risk for both mother and babies. Common complications include preterm birth, low birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes. Delivery is usually by cesarean section, and many newborns require intensive care. With advances in neonatal medicine, survival rates have improved, but outcomes depend strongly on gestational age and the care available.

Because of the rarity and potential medical complexity, sextuplets are documented primarily in medical literature and case reports. They are far less common than quadruplet or quintuplet pregnancies, and public attention often centers on individual families or fertility-treatment contexts.