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Physicians at Forsyth Medical Center delivered the county's first set of quintuplets on Wednesday, November 3, 2004. The babies, three boys and two girls, were born 12 weeks and one day premature and are doing well at Forsyth Medical Centers Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). They are North Carolinas ninth set of quintuplets born since 1968 when the state began tracking multiple births.

Robert Dillard, M.D., medical director of FMCs NICU, said the delivery went very smoothly.

"We have known for several weeks that the quintuplets would be born at Forsyth Medical Center, and we took every available precaution to help ensure a successful delivery," Dr. Dillard said. "The mother has been on bed rest at FMC for seven weeks, and during that time our OR, NICU and Labor & Delivery staff have coordinated the necessary personnel, equipment and rooms needed to deliver five babies at one time."

Virginia Nichols, M.D., a neonatologist who has been working with the quintuplets, said that while both parents are excited at the birth, they are still cautious about their health. "We are monitoring the babies in the NICU because babies born prematurely face numerous hurdles, including respiratory problems, heart disease, infection and delayed development," Dr. Nichols said. "However, these babies, while born early, are in excellent health."

Forsyth Medical Center is one of seven hospitals that are part of Novant Health, a not-for-profit healthcare system based in North Carolina. In addition to Forsyth Medical Center, other hospital affiliates include Medical Park Hospital in Winston-Salem and Thomasville Medical Center in Thomasville; also Presbyterian Hospital, Presbyterian Orthopaedic Hospital, Presbyterian Hospital Matthews and Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville in the Charlotte area. Other facilities and programs of Novant Health include three philanthropic foundations, two nursing home and senior residential facilities, physician clinics, outpatient surgery and diagnostic centers, rehabilitation programs and community health outreach programs.

Novant Health has been nationally recognized as the "Best in Industry for Working Mothers" by Working Mother Magazine and one of the "Top 40 Family-Friendly NC Companies" by Charlotte Parent and Piedmont Parent magazines. Additionally, Novant Health was named to the 2003 SMG Top 100 Integrated Healthcare Networks in the country.