QUINTUPLET BIRTH IN COLOMBO-SECRETS REVEALED

The precise details of the third set of Quintuplets born in Sri Lanka revealed to the media by the parents:

During the early part of November it was reported in our web site about the birth of the third set of Quintuplets in Sri Lanka, who were born to a young mother at a private hospital in Colombo. No details about this historical birth was revealed to the media and it was kept as secret at the request of the parents.
At present the Quintuplets are three weeks old and are in good health. After given all the care at the castle Street Hospital for Women the parents were allowed to bring them home last Friday. The parents have now decided to disclose all facts pertaining to the birth of the Quintuplets to the media.
The full story had been published in the most recent issue of the ‘Rivira’ newspaper.
This birth had taken place on the 31st October. The facts were not disclosed. Out of the five babies three are daughters while the other two had been baby boys. The parents are Denver de Livera and Melisha de Livera. All babies are confirmed to be in good health.
Denver, the father is an Executive Officer attached to M/s Heyley’s Company. He had married Melisha on the 24th August 2010.Denver was then 26 years old while Melisha was just 21 years old. Both hailed from medium class families. After marriage both had decided not to have a baby for period of a year or a year and a half.
Their dream came true after this period where they wanted to live devoid of having a baby. Melisha developed symptoms of being conceived, when she developed pregnancy indications. They chose as their Consultant Gynaecologist, Dr Desmond Warnakulasuriya. After they consulted the doctor of their choice after two months, the doctor had ordered for a scan report. At that time the doctor had confirmed that Melisha was to have twins. Both parents were very happy to hear the news, particularly Melisha as she loved small children. Doctor advised her to rest for three months.
As she had lost her appetite and had to go through a tough period through the early pregnancy period, Melisha gave up her profession, been a Montessori teacher, though not very willingly and against her wishes as she loved to be a preschool teacher. After five months on the orders of Doctor Desmond Warnakulasuriya she was requested to take another scan report. On seen the report the doctor also was puzzled and confused as his original prediction was all wrong. She was to get more than two babies. Then for a second opinion Doctor Warnakulasuriya consulted another Consultant Gynaecologist Usha Nanayakkara. Both perused the scan report very carefully and told “  there are one, two, three, four and five babies”. When the doctor confirmed both Melisha and Denver were shocked as well as happy, but they had some fear also about this latest news which they never expected. When they were given the information, naturally they were happy. They had to accept it as a god’s gift.
The couple from that day were counting days until the babies were delivered. Doctor Desmond Warnakulasuriya had given them all the required advice. The Doctor had told them not to fear of anything as the babies are growing well in the womb. Doctor had told there are many who suffer without having babies, therefore in that context you both should be happy to have five babies at once. With the love and care of Melisha’s parents the babies had grown little by little in Melish’s womb. Months passed like this and she had attended without fail the maternity clinics. When nearing the 31st week after pregnancy Melisha was admitted to a Central Hospital in Colombo.
She spent eight days under the care of the Doctors and the nursing staff at this private hospital. After completion of 31 weeks the babies were delivered by the Consultant Gynaecologist through a caesarean operation. Initially it was two baby daughters who were delivered, then a baby boy and again it was baby daughter and the fifth was a baby boy. Immediately after the birth two babies were transferred to the special baby unit at the Castle Street hospital for Women. The remaining three babies were also transferred subsequently to the same baby care unit of the Castle Street Hospital for Women. The Consultant Paediatrician who in charge of this unit was Doctor Shakila Nanayakkaraa who with her competent and able staff gave the babies all necessary baby care. The mother Melisha was thought how to handle, feed, give warmth and carry the babies and all other advice as to how she should look after the babies in the proper manner. The staff gave the best possible attention to the Quintuplets and the Mother.
The Consultant Paediatrician and the entire staff worked tirelessly day and night to look after the babies and the mother. The mother had also praised and thanked Dr Fathima for their attention given during the stay in the hospital. Melisha was counting days as to when she would be discharged to go home as there were the very anxious grandparents waiting to see the grandchildren. On last Friday she was discharged and she went home with her quintuplets.
It is learnt that all children are keeping in good health. Denver, the father had quipped that he takes this opportunity to thank his employer and staff of M/s Heyley’s Company. They had been a huge tower of strength to him. His happiness was so high and he could not bear and explain it. For them it was a big gift from ‘God’. Happy words expressed by Melisha and Denver “to receive Quintuplets was not a surprise as in both families there had been sets of twins born to family members.” They are yet to give them names. We are hoping soon to give them names and to register them.
Melisha has had an intention to run a preschool Montessori at home. Now it would automatically happen in a few years when the babies grow up when she could teach them herself. This is particularly as she loves small children.

‘Rivira’ newspaper article by Biyanka Nanayakkara
Photographs: by Chathura S.Kodikara
Shown below is how our First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa visited to see the Quintuplets.