World's only nonuplets celebrate their first birthday

The world's only nonuplets—nine babies born at the same time—celebrated their first birthday on Wednesday, and all are in very good health.

The babies are still in the care of the clinic where they were born in Morocco. The mother, Halima Cissé, also remains at the medical facility and says she is doing well.  

"It's not easy, but it's great. Although it's exhausting at times, when you see all the babies in perfect health... we feel relieved. We forget everything," father Abdelkader Arby, a Malian army officer, told the BBC.

The children spent their birthdays accompanied by their parents, the nurses and a few other people. "Nothing is better than the first year. We will remember this great time we are going to have," Arby expressed.

The father recently returned to Morocco after six months, accompanied by his eldest daughter Souda, three years old.

"I'm overwhelmed to be reunited with my whole family: my wife, the kids and me," he added.

Guinness World Record

Halima Cissé, a 25-year-old Malian woman, broke the world record after giving birth to the largest number of babies born alive. On May 4, 2021, she gave birth to her nine children, two more than doctors had told her she would have.

The delivery took place in Morocco, where she was transferred by the Government of Mali to receive specialized care.

The five girls and four boys were born at 30 weeks, according to Mali's health minister, Fanta Siby. The boys are named Mohammed VI, Oumar, Elhadji, Bah, while the girls are Kadidia, Fatouma, Hawa, Adama and Oumou.

"They all have different personalities. Some are quiet, while others are noisier and cry a lot. Some want to be held all the time. They are all very different, which is totally normal," his father told the BBC.

Multiple births are risky. There is a risk that the babies may present health problems as a result of their premature birth.