Marinella Mazzara, 31, from Sicily, was only in her 25th week of pregnancy when she went into labour and the first baby, a girl, was born naturally last week.

A boy was born on Sunday and doctors decided to carry out a Caesarean Section to deliver the other six. Sadly two of the six delivered together, a boy and a girl, died shortly after.

The six remaining babies, all weighing around 500 grammes (1.1lb) each, are said to be doing relatively well in intensive care, given their early birth.

The two boys and four girls have been named Michele, Girolamo, Margherita, Rosa Maria, Marta and Connie.

Mrs Mazzara had started taking fertility drugs after she and her husband tried for six years to conceive. Although she was advised to consider selective termination to give some of the babies an improved chance of living, she refused.

Are you expecting more than one baby? Visit our Twins and Multiples discussion board or have a look at our range of information about bringing up twins and multiples.

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