Photo: Gosiame Thamara Sithole who gave birth to 10 children, and her husband Tebogo Tsotetsi, from Tembisa Township in Ekurhuleni; Thobile Mathonsi/African News Agency (ANA)
A 37-year-old woman in South Africa, Gosiame Thamara Sithole, has given birth to ten babies, breaking the world record.
Her husband, Teboho Tsotesi, is amazed by the remarkable event. He told Pretoria News after the birth:
"It's seven boys and three girls. I am happy. I am emotional. I can't talk much."
An official from South Africa has confirmed the births to the BBC, although he has yet to see the babies.
A family member, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the BBC that five of the babies were delivered via natural birth while five were delivered via caesarean section.
The Guinness World Records is currently investigating the case, according to the BBC.
The woman currently holding the Guinness World Record for the most babies delivered at a single birth had eight babies in 2009.
A month ago, 25-year-old Halima Cissé from Mali had nine babies at a clinic in Morocco. Reports say that all of the babies are doing well.
Although multiple births are a rare phenomenon and are often the result of fertility treatments, the couple says that they conceived naturally.
Ms Sithole had previously given birth to twins, six year ago. She delivered the 10 babies in Petoria on Monday evening and she is reportedly in doing well.
When interviewed by Petoria News last month, Ms Sithole said of her pregnancy:
"[It was] tough at the beginning... How would they fit in the womb? Would they survive?" she wondered, but was reassured by doctors that her womb was expanding.
It initially was believed that she was carrying eight babies and she was suffering from pain in the legs when the doctors discovered that two of the babies "were in the wrong tube". She said the newspaper at the time:
"That was sorted and I have been okay since then. I can't wait for my children."
Her husband was also delighted and said it felt like "one of God's chosen children. It's a miracle which I appreciate".
[h/t: BBC]
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