PHOTO: Front row, from left: Prof. Wolfgang Henrich, Director of the Department of Obstetrics, the parents with their four children. Back row, from left: Neonatologist Dr. Monika Berns, paediatric nurse Jessica Blauert, and Jasmin Barthel, midwifery student. Baby number five is in an incubator. © Charité
25-member Charité team ensures a successful start in life
Berlin, November 6, 2025
Great joy in the delivery rooms of Charité: At the end of September, quintuplets were born at the Department of Obstetrics at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. The mother and the premature babies are doing well. The birth was the result of meticulous preparation and close collaboration between obstetrics and neonatology. The two girls and three boys are thriving and have already more than doubled their birth weight.
The birth of quintuplets is a medical rarity – it occurs naturally in only one in 50 million pregnancies. “Due to its rarity, the birth of quintuplets is an extraordinary event and a particular logistical challenge, even for experienced obstetricians,” says Prof. Wolfgang Henrich, Director of the Department of Obstetrics at Charité.
The newborns were delivered by gentle caesarean section at the end of the 28th week of pregnancy. The necessary steps were meticulously planned in advance, and everyone was on call day and night. A 25-member interdisciplinary team was present to give the children the best possible start in life. “A birth like this requires a perfectly coordinated team of obstetricians, anaesthesiologists, neonatologists, midwives, and operating room nurses. We are pleased that everything went smoothly and that the mother and children are doing well,” says Wolfgang Henrich.
A safe start to life
Immediately after the birth, the team from the Department of Neonatology took over the initial care: “Premature multiple births require the utmost attention, especially in the first few hours,” emphasizes Prof. Christoph Bührer, Director of the Department of Neonatology. “We monitor breathing, circulation, and temperature very closely. Each child has its own individual needs.”
PHOTO: The proud parents with their children. © Charité
The newborns are currently being cared for in a neonatal unit at Charité. “Especially with multiple births, some babies initially need a little more time to gain weight or stabilize their bodily functions,” explains Christoph Bührer. “We are monitoring their development closely but calmly, and the progress so far has been extremely encouraging.” As soon as the little ones are strong enough, they can be discharged home.
“We are happy to be able to hold our five children safe and healthy in our arms,” says the proud mother. “We feel exceptionally well cared for here at Charité – but of course, we are also looking forward to the day when we can all go home together. Until then, we watch each day as our little darlings grow and thrive.”
Expertise in High-Risk Pregnancies
The Department of Obstetrics is the largest and most renowned obstetrics facility in Germany. More than 5,000 babies are born there each year. In addition to providing family-centred care for many pregnant women with uncomplicated births and complications, the department, as a perinatal centre, has particular expertise in the treatment of high-risk and multiple pregnancies.