An Australian woman has given birth to very rare, naturally conceived identical quadruplets after a pregnancy described as "extremely high risk" by the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. The four girls were delivered by caesarean section at 28 weeks and four days on 14 July, and were monozygotic quadruplets, meaning a single fertilised egg split into four embryos.
The hospital said the girls' mother, 34-year-old Jenitar Na'amoana, and her husband Jortham already had four children and were taken by "immense surprise" when told to expect quadruplets.
Dr Alexa Bendall, who cared for the mother from the start of her pregnancy, estimated identical quadruplets occur "at one in every 15 million pregnancies" and said "but to share the same placenta - this is unheard of".
Dr Bendall, who is a maternal foetal medicine specialist and obstetrician, said the pregnancy carried very high risk, and the hospital admitted Na'amoana as an inpatient at 25 weeks so she could be monitored.
"We always said that if we could get her to 28 weeks, we would be doing well,"
"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,"
Jenitar Na'amoana said her and her husband's hearts were "overflowing with gratitude" after the births.
Dr Bendall said, "Jenitar has taken everything in her stride from day one... she has somehow dodged every complication and risk for both herself and her babies,".
The newborn girls have been named Emily, Harriet, Catherine, and also Alexa, after Dr Alexa Bendall, who described it as "a beautiful tribute".
The babies will stay in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit until they grow to full term and are "currently doing extremely well", Dr Bendall added.
The parents' other children are between one and 10 years old, and the mother has recently launched an online fundraising campaign to help buy a van with at least 10 seats.
In a message alongside the fundraiser, which has already received over A$37,000 (£19,261) in donations, Na'amoana wrote: "Our four precious miracles have arrived safely, 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."
Naturally conceived quadruplets are extremely rare, with doctors estimating the odds at about one in 700,000 births.
How rare are identical quadruplets?
They are extraordinarily rare, with Dr Bendall estimating identical quadruplets occur "at one in every 15 million pregnancies". She also said that sharing the same placenta is "unheard of".
How are the babies doing?
The four girls are currently in the neonatal intensive care unit and are "currently doing extremely well", according to Dr Bendall. They will remain there until they grow to full term.
What happens next for the family?
The family is now adjusting to life with four newborns alongside their other four children, who are between one and 10 years old. Na'amoana has launched a fundraising campaign to help buy a van with at least 10 seats, and it has already raised more than A$37,000 (£19,261).
Key Facts
- The babies were born on 14 July at 28 weeks and four days by caesarean section.
- They are monozygotic quadruplets, formed when one fertilised egg split into four embryos.
- The mother is 34-year-old Jenitar Na'amoana, and the father is Jortham.
- The girls are named Emily, Harriet, Catherine and Alexa.
- The family already had four children before the quadruplets were born.
