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We might end up with even more kids, admit parents of sextuplets
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
enlargeThe parents of Northern Ireland’s only sextuplets have not ruled out having more children.
Austin and Nuala Conway from Dunamore in Co Tyrone became the proud parents of six bundles of joy last month.
Ursula, Austin, Shannon, Karla, Eoghan and Kerrie all entered the world — in that order — on May 22.
They are the first set of six to be born in Ireland and the second set to be born in the UK.
And while the thought of six babies would be enough to put most parents off the idea of having more children, proud mum Nuala has not ruled it out.
“If God blesses us with more children then we will love and cherish them,” the 26-year-old new mum told the Daily Express.
Since the babies’ arrival, the young couple have been keeping vigil over the four girls and two boys who are in the intensive care unit of the maternity wing at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
The sextuplets were delivered by caesarean 14 weeks early. It took a team of 38 medical staff to assist with their delivery.
Nuala, who had tried for two years to conceive, explained she could not wait to get her babies home so she could “have a cuddle with them”.
“I prayed as much as I could for a child,” she said. “We would have been happy with one but we were blessed with six, which is amazing.
“I can’t wait to have them home. I just feel lost without them. We have a house here but it feels so empty. It’s not a home until all our babies are home safe and well.
“I’m in love with every single one of them. I fell in love when they were in the womb. When one moved they would all move and I could feel 24 limbs kicking.
“Every day seems like a year. Every minute seems like an hour. I just want time to go faster so they can get home. I just want to have a cuddle with them.”
New father Austin said he knew the next couple of years would be hard on both himself and his wife however they would just take it all in their stride.
“Having one child makes a relationship strong so having six will bring us even closer,” he said.
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Comments
31 Comments
God bless you Nuala and Austin and your little ones. Each child is a precious gift. As to the naysayers, never in the world was having a child based on what you can afford. Sometimes its a struggle, but God is our provider and what a blessing children are! God has a plan and a purpose for each life. These little ones were born "for such a time as this".
Posted by deborah | 20.06.09, 15:52 GMT
The babies were conceived naturally so the parents really had no choice about producing 6. So that fact that they needed intensive neonatal care and 39 medics attending the birth is hardly an issue. What about the people who eat, drink and smoke themselves into chronic (and therefore costly) conditions? I am expecting twins and the thought of having 6 is my worst nightmare. Once she gets them home she will think twice about having anymore! This family needs support not condemnation.
Posted by Gemma | 19.06.09, 09:40 GMT
God half the people in the North seem to be warped!
If my wife got pregnant with six kids I wouldn't give up work and neither would she, she'd take a sabbatical until they went to school. hat's what normal people do. You work and support your family regardless of what god brings you and you claim the same tax credit as anyone else...
Is everyone up there on benefits as the first thing half you think is "how much will it cost the tax payer, and they must be on benefits the scroungers!"
Weird!!
Posted by Bren | 17.06.09, 14:47 GMT
Better to be chirpy that negative and scathing Leave these people alone to enjoy their children - I think they will have a lot more important things on their minds over the next few months without having to put up with this kind of ridiculous attitude from people who haven't got a clue about their sitaution. And Mike, I hope that your circumstances never change outside your control to mean that you become a 'burden' on 'we' the taxpayer.
Posted by Marg | 17.06.09, 01:53 GMT
I wonder what they do if they lived in the USA where we DO NOT HAVE SOCIALISM?
Posted by phl | 17.06.09, 01:24 GMT
Working parents could not afford 6 kids never mind any more than that so these guys must be relying on state handouts , which is wrong .....
I raised 3 kids and found it hard to meet all their emotional needs on a day to day basis ..
And as for the comment " having six will bring us even closer" ..
Are they still on the gas and air?!
Posted by fiona | 17.06.09, 00:49 GMT
Mike who is going to look after you and contribute to tax when your old?
We are all going have to work untill we die as the population is getting old and there is not enough children now to replace the current population.
By the way couples now with their massive house, holidays every year, their 2 petrol guzzling cars and 1 spoilt child do more damage to this world than a house fill of children every will.
Posted by Francis | 16.06.09, 23:08 GMT
Mike--overpopulation is a myth. Especially in Europe -- The real problem is not enough babies. where do you get your information? In many industrialized countries the governments are actually paying bonuses for people to have babies. Babies are always a blessing
Posted by Sally | 16.06.09, 21:50 GMT
I have 3 children, 2 of which are twins, and I only get family allowance. I had to give up work as we couldn't afford child care at £1800 a MONTH. I wish people would give them a break., I struggle with toddler twins so my heart really goes out to them.
Posted by stressed | 16.06.09, 20:15 GMT
Hypocrites the lot of you! At least this couple are married and employed, not like the streams of single teenage mothers seen in Belfast on any given day who will be a burden on us working people all their life.
Congrats to the Conways and I hope they do have more children as they will have a loving home.
Posted by Sol | 16.06.09, 19:44 GMT
I think the point is being missed. Congratulations and good luck to them, they deserve to be happy. I think the irresponsible comment is 'we might end up with even more kids....' Be thankful for what you have which is more than enough and as a parent of 3 you're in for tough, but incredible, times ahead. Knowing the press the comment has probably been taken out of context anyway or as an excited comment during an emotional high.
Posted by Chris | 16.06.09, 17:06 GMT
I think the point is being missed. Congratulations and good luck to them, they deserve to be happy. I think the irresponsible comment is 'we might end up with even more kids....' Be thankful for what you have which is more than enough and as a parent of 3 you're in for tough, but incredible, times ahead. Knowing the press the comment has probably been taken out of context anyway or as an excited comment during an emotional high.
Posted by Chris | 16.06.09, 17:06 GMT
well, i agree with those who support the family! it was natural birth, she didnt think she could have any children and now she has 6. it doesnt matter about the number, it simply means that we have more workers in the furture, more educated members of society. There could be room to complain if they were irresponsible teenagers but they are grown adults and i think people, especially in this current time, are far too quick to get too excited over money! let the family have their happiness!
Posted by Victoria | 16.06.09, 16:27 GMT
Well Congrats to them, alot of people saying a drain on tax payers, and all that but where did it say the couple are not tax payers? Sure they will get working and child tax credits but, at least they are married! Married people really do get shafted when it comes to benifits so if they were after tax payers money the smart option was to be seperated.
Posted by DA | 16.06.09, 16:10 GMT
I've never lived in NI in my life!! Never even heard of the place!
Poor poor Mike, I'd say the curtains could stand on their own in your house!
Posted by Tom | 16.06.09, 15:39 GMT
The handouts you are talking about are of no real consequence, i am talking about the fact that all people are mass consumers all needing fed and watered and transported around.
that has a massive impact on the actual earth, not just your taxes, you have to look at the bigger picture, what if everyone had six kids the planet would probably die, there simply isn't enough resource. that is why it would be irresponsible
Posted by Mihe | 16.06.09, 15:16 GMT
Meant to say I agree entirely with Mike. Premature babies can cost thousands of pounds in neonatal intensive care unit costs before they even reach normal term (37 weeks) age. Nobody should even think of having more kids with 6 babies still in intensive care. People like Catherine who think the money and resources drain on the NHS is not important need to wake up and smell the coffee.
Posted by Robert | 16.06.09, 15:01 GMT
Talk about fiddling while the planet burns! Also for the record, the tax payer will have to cough up for family allowance, tax credits for the parents etc. All the time whilse we are unable to support the population that we already have. Open your eyes and see the damage being done.
Posted by Mike | 16.06.09, 14:06 GMT
MONEY MONEY MONEY. i am sick of this attitude people have in NI. not everyone lives their lives around what handouts they receive from the state. Children are a blessing not a burden. Who are you people to say that this couple will rely on the state to raise their children. and who are you to say that these children and any other children they may have will not grow up to be upstanding citizens with a lot more to contribute to society than a few cynical comments???
Posted by Catherine | 16.06.09, 13:44 GMT
Well Tom, when I see the hoards of families in Castlecourt on a Saturday screaming, yelling, swearing at their kids and generally 'enjoying' family life, then of course I'd love to have several of the little dears hanging off me too. Get a life Tom. Since when was having children the be all and end all of life. Me thinks that you've lived in NI too long! You need to get out and discover that life is not all about breeding mate!
Posted by Mike | 16.06.09, 13:26 GMT
31 Comments