They became parents to nonuplets four years ago, and this is how their children are doing now
A Malian family made global headlines in 2021. Now their record-breaking nine kids are thriving, after overcoming some initial challenges.
As anyone who has ever become a parent to a child will attest, looking after a baby is no easy task, despite all the wonderful things that go with it. So spare a thought for Malian couple Halima Cissé and Abdelkader Arby, the mother and father of the world’s first known set of nonuplets. That’s nine children, in case you weren’t familiar…
Guinness World Record after birth of nine children
Cissé and Arby’s five girls (Kadidia, Fatouma, Hawa, Adama and Oumou) and four boys (Mohammed VI, Elhadji, Oumar and Bah) were born in Morocco on May 4, 2021, leading to the family receiving a Guinness World Record for most children delivered at a single birth to survive. The parents already had an older daughter, who is now six.
Siblings born at 30 weeks
Halima’s pregnancy was not without its difficulties. She was originally told she was pregnant with seven babies, but ultimately gave birth to nine via C-section at a gestational age of 30 weeks, 10 weeks shorter than a ‘normal’ pregnancy. As a result, they weighed between 0.5 and 1 kg (1.1 and 2.2 lb).
4th birthday celebrations
But the nine siblings battled through the challenges and have gone on to be strong and healthy, as shown by a recent nostalgic Instagram post published by @les_nonuples, an account run by Cissé and Arby, celebrating their fourth birthdays:
“Unforgettable memories…
A look back, a little over four years ago…
Here are a few rare images of our treasures just after they were born, in their little incubators, along with a precious photo of their mom Halima during her exceptional pregnancy.
A miracle of life, incredible strength, immense love 💛
We are filled with gratitude for the journey we’ve been on and for all the support we’ve received from the very beginning.
Thank you to everyone who has been with us since day one.”
“Celebrity” celebrations
“The children are all well, by the grace of God,” Halima told Guinness. “They have grown so much since their last birthday and the change is clearly visible in them all. For their 4th birthday, we decided to celebrate in a grandiose way, as a celebrity would!”
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.