Lisa McLoughlin
A woman has recalled how she found out she was pregnant with two sets of identical twins, a one in 70 million medical phenomena.
Ashley Ness from Taunton, Massachusetts said she was left speechless when her ultrasound in February revealed she was carrying not one but four babies, who are not quadruplets but in fact twin girls and twin boys.
Speaking to Good Morning America, the part-time hairdresser said: "When she first started the scan, she was looking at the screen and wrote, 'A, B,' so I stopped and looked at her and was like, 'Wait, I'm having twins?'
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"And she's like, 'Oh I don't know... I'm going to step out for a minute'."
After her extra special delivery was confirmed, the mum-of-one admitted her shock soon turned to excitement as she and her boyfriend Val, who has three children from a previous relationship, revelled in the news.
The 35-year-old explained that she had struggled to get pregnant, so the news that she was carrying four children felt like a miracle.
She added: "I had a very hard time conceiving my daughter and I've had miscarriages in the past, so I feel like to be able to be blessed with something so big is so amazing."
The couple’s new arrivals are due in October but will be induced prematurely due to the risk of delivering four babies naturally.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Ashley and Val by their mutual friend Lisa Voci Potter to help with the financial cost bringing the babies into the world.
The description reads: "The ultrasound technician had to recheck before confirming that she was pregnant with quadruplets. Two sets of identical twins, two boys and two girls, are unique.
"Only about 150 sets of quadruplets and higher-order multiples are born in the United States each year. Most often, they happen when a parent has been using assisted reproduction. In Ashley's case, her quadruplets are considered spontaneous. Naturally occurring.
"Ashley and her boyfriend are thrilled and overwhelmed. They already have four children between them. The expenses, even now, are adding up. They need help - lots of help.
"She lives on a part-time hairdresser's income, and he's a small engine mechanic. They will need lots of support as quadruplets require hospital trips, home care, lots of diapers, and other necessities.
"The babies are due in October; however, for the health and well-being of Ashley and her babies, they will most likely be delivered in mid-August.
“Ashley cannot return to work as these tiny miracles will need round-the-clock care for most of their first year. Your donations will help support these little miracles' needs.”
So far, almost $11,000 (£8,900) has been raised for the family.