Mother-of-three gives birth to second ever set of septuplets to all survive

Ghazala Khamis, 27, had taken fertility drugs in the hope of having a son.

Instead the Egyptian farmer's wife, who already has three girls, gave birth to four boys and three more girls.

Seven little survivors: Egyptian nurses tend to the newborn septuplets born in Egypt

The newborns, who weigh between 3lbs and 6lbs, are said to be doing well and are being cared for in incubators.

Doctors decided to carry out a Caesarean section at the end of Mrs Khamis's eighth month of pregnancy because of the pressure on her kidneys.

Ordeal: Egyptian mother Ghazala Khamis(centre) is cared for in hospital after giving birth to four boys and three girls

Her brother Khamis Khamis said the family, from Beheira, was astonished when they learnt about the multiple pregnancy.

'We thought about an abortion but then we felt it's haram ( religiously forbidden) so we said let God's will prevail,' he added.