An Australian woman has delivered an exceptionally rare set of naturally conceived identical quadruplets after doctors described her pregnancy as “extremely high risk”, according to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
The four girls were born by caesarean section on 14 July at 28 weeks and four days. They are monozygotic quadruplets, meaning one fertilised egg split into four embryos.
Their mother, 34-year-old Jenitar Na’amoana, and her husband, Jortham, already have four children and were reportedly taken by “immense surprise” when they learned they were expecting quadruplets.
Dr Alexa Bendall, the maternal foetal medicine specialist and obstetrician who oversaw the pregnancy, said identical quadruplets occur “at one in every 15 million pregnancies” and added, “but to share the same placenta – this is unheard of”.
She explained that the pregnancy carried significant risks, prompting doctors to admit Na’amoana to hospital at 25 weeks for close monitoring.
“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,” she added.
“Jenitar has taken everything in her stride from day one… she has somehow dodged every complication and risk for both herself and her babies,” Bendall said.
The newborns have been named Emily, Harriet, Catherine and Alexa, with the fourth baby named after Dr Bendall, who described the gesture as “a beautiful tribute”.
The babies remain in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, where they are expected to stay until reaching full term. According to Bendall, they are “currently doing extremely well”.
The couple’s other children are aged between one and 10 years. To prepare for their expanded family, Na’amoana recently launched an online fundraiser to help purchase a van with at least 10 seats.
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In a message posted with the campaign, which has raised more than A$37,000 (£19,261), she 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 uncommon, with doctors estimating the odds at roughly one in 700,000 births.
