Woman Reportedly Gives Birth To 10 Babies; Authorities Say They Couldn't Verify Claim

A woman in South Africa has reportedly given birth to 10 children at once, which could be a new world record.

Gosiame Thamara Sithole, 37, gave birth to the decuplets Tuesday night at a hospital in Pretoria, said her husband, Teboho Tsotetsi. However, the government in South Africa said it couldn't verify the claim, local news outlet Times Live reported.

The news was first reported by IOL, which said Sithole delivered seven boys and three girls through Cesarean section. Doctors had earlier detected eight children during her scans but missed two, the report said.

Sithole, who has 6-year-old twins, had earlier claimed that it was a natural pregnancy and she was not on any fertility treatment. She was 29 weeks into her pregnancy when the babies were born.

"It's seven boys and three girls. She was seven months and seven days pregnant. I am happy. I am emotional. I can't talk much," Tsotetsi was quoted by IOL.

The outlet claimed its reporters met Sithole after doctors found out she was expecting "octuplets" but delayed publishing the report at the request of the family. Sithole said at the time that the doctors initially detected six children, but further scans showed two more.

"I am shocked by my pregnancy. It was tough at the beginning. I was sick. It was hard for me. It's still tough but I am used to it now. I don't feel the pain anymore, but it's still a bit tough. I just pray for God to help me deliver all my children in a healthy condition, and for me and my children to come out alive. I would be pleased about it," Sithole had told IOL.

However, authorities said they were unable to verify the birth. Director-general of government communications, Phumla Williams, said in a statement that they were seeking more information about the incident.

"The posts attribute the birth of the babies to Gosiame Thamara Sithole from Gauteng. The government has been unable to verify the authenticity of this birth at our facilities. We need to verify this story and provide assistance where needed," Williams was quoted by Times Live.

If confirmed, Sithole will break the record of Malian woman Halima Cissé, who gave birth to nonuplets in Morocco last month. Doctors had said that all the babies were fine and in an incubator because of their weight.

Before that, the verified world record for the most living births was eight, born to American woman Nadya Suleman, nicknamed "Octomom," in 2009. She was 33 years old at the time.