A 34-year-old Australian mom has given birth to a rare set of identical quadruplets after a naturally conceived pregnancy that doctors say occurs in about 1 in 15 million cases.
Jenitar Na’amoana welcomed her “precious miracles” Emily, Harriet, Catherine and Alexa by cesarean section at 28 weeks and four days on July 14 at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in Herston, Queensland, the BBC reported.
Na’amoana and her husband Jortham were taken by “immense surprise” when they learned they were expecting identical quadruplets despite not using fertility treatments.
The babies are monozygotic quadruplets, meaning they developed after a single fertilized egg split into four embryos.
The Brisbane couple are now parents of eight children after the birth, with their older kids ranging from 1 to 10 years old.
Dr. Alexa Bendall, who oversaw Na’amoana’s care, said the case was even more unusual because all four babies shared a single placenta.
“Identical quadruplets occur at one in every 15 million pregnancies, but to share the same placenta — this is unheard of,” Bendall told the BBC.
Na’amoana was admitted to the hospital at 25 weeks so doctors could closely monitor both her and the babies because of the risks associated with the pregnancy.
Despite those risks, Na’amoana reached 28 weeks and four days without experiencing the major complications doctors had anticipated.
“We always said that if we could get her to 28 weeks, we would be doing well,” Bendall said.
“So the fact that we’ve got four beautiful, healthy babies born at 28 weeks and four days is incredible and we’re very happy to be a part of it.”
Na’amoana “has somehow dodged every complication and risk for both herself and her babies,” Bendall said.
Na’amoana and her husband named one of the newborns Alexa in honor of Bendall. The doctor called the gesture “a beautiful tribute,” the ABC reported.
The newborns are expected to remain in the neonatal intensive care unit for several weeks while they continue to grow stronger.
Na’amoana later launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover medical expenses and the cost of a larger van for the family’s new life as a household of 10.
“Our four precious miracles have arrived safely,” she wrote. “And while our hearts are overflowing with gratitude, the reality of caring for four newborns at once has brought challenges we never could have imagined.”
As of July 21, the fundraiser had raised more than 82,000 Australian dollars (about $57,500).
