First-time mum who is a quadruplet gives birth to quintuplets
Imagine going from having no babies to many babies all in one go.
That's what happened for one Texas mom, who was pregnant for the first time, only to discover that she was having quintuplets, whom she has named Kyla Rose, Joseph Anthony, Jaxon Thomas, Viviana Lily, and Isabella Gianna, with her last two children being identical twins.
She welcomed her babies on 3 June via caesarean section at Las Palmas Medical Centre.
But not only that, but 36-year-old Theresa Troia is a quadruplet herself, having been born along with her three brothers, Joseph, Matthew, and Thomas - so to her, it's all pretty 'normal'.
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"To me, the normal is multiples, you know, because I don't obviously know any different, but it was nice growing up and always having a sibling there," Theresa told ABC News.
A quintuplet is five people who were all born during one birth, while a quadtuplet is four.
According to ReproductiveFacts, women over 30 are more likely to conceive multiples, and this likelihood is increased if they are a multiple.
And a quintuplet birth is an especially rare occasion, occurring in one in 60 million births, Dr. Rachael Morris, an associate professor of maternal fetal medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Centre, said (via Today).
Theresa's babies were also conceived naturally without any fertility treatments, though she is no longer with their father.
While there were a few bumps in the road, like some bleeding in her first trimester, the nurse says she was incredibly 'lucky' with her pregnancy as she didn't experience 'any nausea, vomiting, cravings, anything like that', adding: "I didn't have any swelling.
"So I was really lucky."
Dr. Aaron Poole, an OB-GYN and maternal-fetal medicine specialist, treated Theresa and the babies, revealing they are the first set of quintuplets to be born at the El Paso hospital.
"The birth of Las Palmas Del Sol Healthcare's first set of quintuplets is a rare and special moment, and we're proud to have provided the high-level of care necessary to support Theresa and her babies from delivery through recovery," he said.
"Bringing five newborns safely into the world took thoughtful planning and close coordination, demonstrating the expertise and commitment our maternal and neonatal teams bring to every patient.
"Our Level III [neonatal intensive care unit] at Las Palmas Medical Center is equipped to manage high-risk, complex pregnancies with around-the-clock care, experienced specialists and advanced technology.
"We are honored to be part of Theresa's story and to welcome some of El Paso's newest residents."
As for Theresa, she is looking forward to being a mom, though she admits the idea of raising five children as a single mother is 'surreal'.
"It's surreal, scary at the same time, because it's zero to five, immediate. It's an instant family, but it's beautiful," she said.
Ten weeks after their birth, three of the babies have left the NICU, with Theresa adding: "They're all doing great and they're all growing. You would never know that they were premature babies or quintuplets, because they're doing so, so good.
"They're so healthy."
Jen Thomas