BELLFLOWER, Calif. — A woman gave birth today to eight babies, only the second time in history live octuplets have been born, doctors said.

The mother, who has not been identified, gave birth to six girls and two boys weighing between 1.8 pounds and 3.4 pounds, doctors at Kaiser Permanante hospital told KCAL9.

"It's a surprise," Dr. Karen Maples said. "Eight newborns are in stable condition and they're doing quite well."

Doctors estimated the delivery of the babies lasted only a few minutes — from 10:43 a.m. to 10:48 a.m.

"They were all screaming and kicking around very vigorously," Dr. Harold Henry told KCAL9.

The first live-born octuplets were born in Houston in December 1998. They were three months premature and their weights at birth ranged from 11 ounces to 1 pound, 11 ounces.

The tiniest infant died of heart and lung failure a week after being born. The surviving siblings — girls Ebuka, Gorom, Chidi, Chima and Echerem, and their brothers Ikem and Jioke — turned 10 in December.

Their mother and father, Nkem Chukwu and Iyke Louis Udobi, said they are astonished and grateful their children have grown up to be healthy and active children who are now in the fourth grade.