Born on May 4, 2021, in a clinic in Casablanca, Morocco, the nine siblings made history as the most children delivered at a single birth to survive. 

Now, five years later, the four boys and five girls have quietly celebrated their fifth birthday together with their family in Mali.

The nonuplets — Mohammed VI, Oumar, Elhadji, Bah, Kadidia, Fatouma, Hawa, Adama and Oumou — were born to Halima Cissé and Abdelkader Arby after a high-risk pregnancy that lasted just under seven months. 

Halima says: “The children are doing very well, Alhamdulillah. They are healthy, active, and full of joy. They continue to grow beautifully, and we are very grateful.”
 She added: “They will begin school soon, which is an important and exciting step for them. As parents, we are focusing on their education while making sure they continue to enjoy their childhood. This new stage is a big change for the family.”

Initially, doctors believed Halima was carrying seven babies, but the couple later discovered they were expecting nine children.

The babies were delivered prematurely by Caesarean section at 30 weeks, each weighing between 0.5 and 1 kilogram. After birth, they spent several months in incubators under intensive medical supervision before finally returning home to Mali with their parents and older sister.

Today, five years later, the family is celebrating an extraordinary milestone as the children continue to grow up healthy and surrounded by love.

What is multiple pregnancy?

A multiple pregnancy is a pregnancy with 2 or more babies. Some names for these are:

• Twins for 2 babies
• Triplets for 3 babies
• Quadruplets for 4 babies
• Quintuplets for 5 babies
• Sextuplets for 6 babies
• Septuplets for 7 babies
• Nonuplets for 9 babies

Multiple births are much more common today than they were in the past. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, the twin birth rate has increased by over 75% since 1980, and triplet, quadruplet, and high-order multiple births have increased at an even higher rate.