Sextuplets!

A Bucks County family is bracing for a new normal after the birth of sextuplets last week.

Mom Stacey Carey introduced the babies–Emma, Samantha, Olivia. John, Patrick and Connor–as she and her husband, Brendan, 41, spoke with reporters at Abington Memorial Hospital about the babies–and the future.

“We know that we have a lot of challenges to come, we have a long road ahead, but because we have such a strong support system, we’ll be able to handle it,” said Stacey Carey, 33.

The babies were delivered by cesarean section. Emma was born at 1:15 a.m. on June 1 and it was all over–six minutes later–when Connor arrived at 1:21 a.m.

The Feasterville, Pa., couple also have a 16-month-old daughter.

The babies were conceived using a fertility treatment called ovulation induction. Carey’s physician said that procedure increases the probability of multiples, but Dr. Stephen Smith said the chance for sextuplets is “extremely, minimally small.”

The babies were born at 27 weeks. Neonatologist Gerard Cleary said all the babies weigh under 2.5 pounds which means among pre-term babies, they have the highest risk for complications.

“They remain in critical condition. While we are happy they are responding to therapy, they are in no way out of the woods,” Cleary said.

All of the babies are getting breathing help from a ventilator and as well as breast milk and other nutrition.

Doctors are keeping close tabs on the sextuplets. Cleary says on delivery day, each infant was assigned a letter “A” through “F” and matched to their own color-coded medical team waiting in the wings.

“To further identify them, they each had their letter designation written on their sole in indelible ink. Six lab specimens with the same last name. Six X-rays with the same last name. The coding was also extended to the laboratory specimens so there would not be any risk for any kind of mix-up there,” he said.