A South African woman made headlines around the world after she gave birth to 10 babies—decouplets—a feat that astonished doctors and broke the Guinness World Record for the most babies born at one birth. However, the incredible story took a shocking turn when doctors realized that one of the things inside her wasn’t actually a baby.
Gosiame Thamara Sithole, 37, initially believed she was expecting just six babies. Then later scans suggested there might be eight. When she finally gave birth, she and the medical team were stunned to discover ten newborns—seven boys and three girls. This natural conception of decuplets was already extraordinary, as most multiple births happen with fertility treatments, and carrying so many babies naturally is almost unheard of.
The birth was complex, as five babies were delivered vaginally and the other five via cesarean section. All were born prematurely at around 7 months and 7 days gestation, which added to the medical challenges. The babies required neonatal intensive care and close monitoring due to their early arrival.
The shocking discovery that one of the "babies" wasn’t an actual infant came during the initial examinations—one of the forms detected was a large placental or tumor-like mass. The doctors initially thought all ten were viable infants, but further investigation revealed this unusual and unexpected mass, which was not a baby, causing confusion and alarm.
Despite this, the remaining nine babies were fighting for their lives, receiving expert care at the hospital. The family has asked for privacy as the infants continue to grow stronger. The astonishing birth captured global attention not just for the number but for the medical marvel and uncertainty involved.
Such cases underscore the incredible complexities of multiples pregnancies, especially rare high-order multiples. They also shine a light on the risks and miracles of neonatal care.