Mum gives birth to 'one in 15 million' identical quadruplets in miracle birth
The babies are reported to be in good health and are receiving specialist care in a neonatal intensive care unit
The babies are reported to be in good health and are receiving specialist care in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit
An Australian mother has given birth to an ultra-rare set of naturally conceived identical quadruplets, following what doctors described as an "extremely high-risk" pregnancy.
Jenitar Na'amoana, 34, delivered the four girls via caesarean at 28 weeks and four days at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in Queensland on July 14.
Despite arriving more than 11 weeks premature, the babies are reported to be in good health and are receiving specialist care in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit.
The newborns are monozygotic quadruplets, meaning they developed after a single fertilised egg split into four separate embryos.
According to the medical team, pregnancies of this nature are extremely uncommon, with maternal foetal medicine specialist and obstetrician Dr Alexa Bendall estimating the chances at around one in 15 million.
Dr Bendall said the case was even more remarkable because all four babies shared a single placenta – describing the condition as virtually unheard of.
She explained the pregnancy carried significant risks for both mother and babies, prompting doctors to admit the mother to hospital at 25 weeks for continuous monitoring.
"Our goal was to safely reach 28 weeks," Dr Bendall said.
"The fact that we've welcomed four healthy babies at 28 weeks and four days is an incredible outcome."
She praised Ms Na'amoana for navigating the pregnancy without experiencing many of the serious complications commonly associated with multiple births.
"Jenitar handled every challenge with remarkable strength and somehow avoided the major risks to both herself and her babies," she said.
Ms Na'amoana and her husband Jortham were already parents to four children aged between one and 10 years when they learned they were expecting quadruplets.
Hospital staff said the couple were "immensely surprised" by the diagnosis.
The girls have been named Emily, Harriet, Catherine and Alexa, with the latter baby named in honour of Dr Bendall.
The doctor described the gesture as "a beautiful tribute".
The girls have been named Emily, Harriet, Catherine and Alexa, with the latter baby named in honour of Dr Alexa Bendall
As the family adjusts to life with eight children, Ms Na'amoana has launched an online fundraising campaign to help purchase a vehicle with at least 10 seats, which has already raised more than A$37,000 (£19,000).
In a message to supporters, she said the arrival of the quadruplets had filled the family with gratitude, while bringing unexpected challenges.
"Our four precious miracles have arrived safely," she wrote. "But caring for four newborns at once is something we never could have imagined."