A mother-of-three who was trying for her fourth child is now pregnant with sextuplets.
Courtney and Eric Waldrop were already the proud parents of three little boys when the Albertville, Alabama, couple decided to try for one more child.
After suffering a miscarriage in January, Courtney decided to go on a low dose of a fertility drug to help conceive and carry a child to full term.
Despite already having a set of twins, she thought there was a low risk for having multiple children.
The mother was stunned when she was told in late June that she would be having six babies, concerned about her health and her family growing to 11 by December.
Now Courtney and Eric, who have been together since middle school, are preparing for their unexpected surprise after they thought they were trying for just one more.
Courtney and Eric Waldrop, of Albertville, Alabama, were stunned when they learned in late June that they would be having sextuplets. They already have an eight-year-old boy and twin boys who are five years old. Pictured: Waldrop family
Courtney suffered a miscarriage in January, prompting her to go on a fertility drug. She hopes to carry the six babies at least until the first week of December. Pictured: Sonogram of Courtney’s womb
Courtney and Eric have been dating since eighth grade and were married in 2004, reported WHNT19.
They had their first son, who is eight years old, in 2009 and welcomed twin boys, who are now five years old, in 2012.
Courtney said to the news station: ‘We just recently decided that we wanted to try again for another one.
‘Within one month we got pregnant but we lost that pregnancy. So we knew we would have to do fertility again.’
Within six weeks they were pregnant again and a doctor told Courtney she was carrying six babies in late June. She is currently in her 13th week of pregnancy.
Courtney added to The Gadsden Times: ‘It was the shock of our lives. They saw six (placental) sacs.’
Courtney, who is in her 13th week of pregnancy, hopes to carry the six babies at least to 28 weeks. Pictured: Courtney (left) with her oldest son and her most recent sonogram (right)
She continued: ‘We were distraught, worried, scared, anything but happy.
‘This was nothing we ever expected or wanted. We were upset and scared. I’d say we finally came to terms with it a couple of weeks ago.’
Courtney said to AL.com: ‘It took several weeks of coming to terms with it. We already have three children.
‘I’ve got to be here for them. I need to be healthy for them. It was just a big fear that would not leave our minds.
‘It’s a shock to people when you tell them. Sometimes you have to repeat yourself, or explain to them what you’re talking about.’
The couple’s immediate concern was placed on Courtney’s health and her ability to safely carry six babies, as multiples are usually delivered prematurely.
The Waldrops are hoping Courtney can carry the sextuplets at least until 28 weeks, which should be in early December.
The couple plan to learn the genders of the six babies in the last week of August.
The Waldrops plan to learn the genders of the six babies in the last week of August
Multiple births are risky as the uterus is only capable of carrying, feeding and providing oxygen for a certain number of fetuses.
The womb and placenta also find it difficult to provide enough room and food to successfully raise large multiple births.
This increases the likelihood of babies being born prematurely and developing health problems.
To reduce the risks, doctors try to get mothers to have the babies one at a time, but this is not possible in all cases.