San Jose, May 25 (EFE).- Hospital authorities in this capital confirmed Monday the death of another of the sextuplets born in Costa Rica on May 17, only three of whom remain alive, all of them in “delicate” condition.

 

Neonatologist Patricia Fallas told Efe that the baby named Andres died at San Jose’s Mexico Hospital when his brain, heart and kidneys suddenly failed.

 

“The factor of extreme prematurity is the most severe risk. Also low weight (is a factor) and the number of children inside the womb puts them under greater risk,” Fallas said.

 

Last Wednesday, Diego died as a result of circulatory and respiratory problems due to his “extreme prematurity” and low birthweight, and two days later Emma died of the same causes.

 

The three surviving newborns are under careful medical observation.

 

According to Fallas, all the babies are in “delicate” health. Valentina is at the Women’s Hospital, Tomas at National Children’s Hospital and Gabriel in Mexico Hospital, the latter being the smallest of them all and in critical condition.

 

The six children, the first group of sextuplets born in Costa Rica, came into this world on May 17 just 27 weeks and five days after conception.

 

The first to be born, Emma, weighed 1,030 grams (2.27 pounds). Two minutes later, Tomas was born weighing 1,060 g (2.33 lb.), followed by Valentina (915 g, or 2.02 lb.), Diego (980 g, or 2.16 lb.), Andres (942 g, or 2.07 lb.) and Gabriel (984 g, or 2.17 lb.). EFE