Queensland couple give birth to quadruplets in extremely rare natural conception

An Aussie mum has described the shock of giving birth to quadruplets as their father outlined the creative way he remembers all of his children’s birthdays.

Breeanna Meads and Kwenton Demnar, who live in Gympie, Queensland, were already a blended family of six when they decided to add one more child to their brood – only to naturally conceive four more girls.

Nova, Kingsley, Emerson and Olly arrived into the world on June 27 – 10 weeks premature – after a ‘surprising’ labour in the middle of the night which saw them all whisked away to the neonatal unit of the Royal and Women’s Hospital (RBWH).

All but one of the babies are now off breathing apparatus and preparing to return home to meet their siblings, who range in age from five to 13.

Breeanna Meads (left) and Kwenton Demnar (right), who live in Gympie, Queensland, were already a blended family of six when they decided to add one more child to their brood

Nova, Kingsley, Emerson and Olly arrived into the world on June 27 - 10 weeks premature - after a 'surprising' labour in the middle of the night which saw them all whisked away to the neonatal unit of the Royal and Women's Hospital (RBWH)

Nova, Kingsley, Emerson and Olly arrived into the world on June 27 – 10 weeks premature – after a ‘surprising’ labour in the middle of the night which saw them all whisked away to the neonatal unit of the Royal and Women’s Hospital (RBWH)

‘It’s a bit hard to see your babies with cords attached everywhere and monitors,’ Breeanna told 7News. ‘It’s been very rough.’ 

‘They’re all pretty keen for us to be home already. But it’s going to be very full-on for the first few months.’

Speaking to Sunrise on Monday the couple said their first ultrasound appointment was a mixture of shock and disbelief, with Breeanna worrying when her partner turned ‘white’.

‘When he said there was two, and then there was three and then hang on, there’s four, I asked him if he could reset the computer to make sure there wasn’t someone else’s babies in the thing as well and it turns out that doesn’t work at all,’ Kwenton said.

Kwenton and Breeanna already share Tye, Bailey, Skye, Laura, Shania, Ciara and Lety, with their doting father printing each of their names on his hands to commit to memory.

Kwenton and Breeanna already share Tye, Bailey, Skye, Laura, Shania, Ciara and Lety, with their doting father printing each of their names on his hands to commit to memory

Kwenton and Breeanna already share Tye, Bailey, Skye, Laura, Shania, Ciara and Lety, with their doting father printing each of their names on his hands to commit to memory

He joked that he’ll have to ink the names of his new four and all of their dates of birth to try and remember correctly.

‘I’ve got my three on this arm but I’m going to have to get more and all the dates of birth because that’s the hardest thing for me to remember,’ Kwenton said.

The couple, who had three children each from previous relationships, were only looking to add one more baby to ‘join the group together’ when they discovered a ‘bonus’ three. 

‘It’s still a bit of a shock,’ Breeanna said.

While they’re pleased with the overall outcome, arguing that they’ll ‘make it work’ with a routine, the couple are determined to stop at 10, with Kwenton either ‘getting a vasectomy or the two brick job’ to prevent further pregnancies.

The couple, who had three children each from previous relationships, were only looking to add one more baby to 'join the group together' when they discovered a 'bonus' three (Breeanna pictured with the quadruplets)

The couple, who had three children each from previous relationships, were only looking to add one more baby to ‘join the group together’ when they discovered a ‘bonus’ three (Breeanna pictured with the quadruplets)

‘Yes, it’s definitely happening, that’s for sure,’ Breenna said.

Quadruplets are extremely rare to conceive naturally, with 90 percent of cases occurring with the assistance of medical technology.  

Research by Stanford University’s School of Medicine revealed that quadruplets are born in only one in 729,000 births. 

Statistically 90 percent of all multiple births are made up of twins and the remaining 10 percent are a combination of triplets, quadruplets and more. 

What increases your chances of having quadruplets?

* A mother has a family history of multiple births. If she is a multiple herself or her mother and/or sisters naturally conceived multiple babies, then she is more likely to as well. This is because there is a genetic link of hyper ovulation amongst the women in some families.

* Couples have had fertility assistance. Medication which increases the number of eggs supported towards maturity will increase the chances of multiple conception.

* Women whose diet is high in dairy foods and yams/sweet potato.

* Women are of African, especially Nigerian, descent.

* Women are already breastfeeding an older baby or toddler; they are more likely to conceive with multiples. But lactation and frequent breastfeeding can also have a contraceptive effect by stopping ovulation so this is a very individual process.

* Couples have regular sex during the woman’s fertile phases. This increases the overall chances of conception occurring.

* A woman conceives in her first cycle after ceasing the contraceptive pill.

* Women are taller and have a higher Body Mass Index (BMI). Though this can also have a reverse effect, as women who are overweight can also have problems with regular ovulation.

* Women are older when they conceive rather than in a younger age group. Research has shown that women who are over 35 years are more likely to conceive with multiples. 

* A woman has had many previous pregnancies. 

Source: Huggies 

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