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Mom Delivers Rare Identical Quadruplets

AP
Posted: 2007-08-17 08:02:09
Filed Under: Health News, Science News
HELENA, Mont. (Aug. 17) - A 35-year-old Canadian woman has given birth to rare identical quadruplets, officials at a Great Falls hospital said Thursday.

Karen Jepp of Calgary, Alberta, delivered Autumn, Brooke, Calissa and Dahlia by Caesarian section Sunday afternoon at Benefis Healthcare, said Amy Astin, the hospital's director of community and government relations.

The four girls were breathing without ventilators and listed in good condition Thursday, she said.

"These babies are doing grand," said Dr. Tom Key of Great Falls, the perinatologist who delivered the girls.

The babies were born about two months early and were conceived without fertility drugs, he said. They weighed between 2.6 pounds and 2.15 pounds.

Jepp and her husband, J.P., declined to be interviewed by The Associated Press.

"The parents have been a little bit shy about the press. ... We agreed to handle it in a way they were comfortable with," Astin said.

The couple have a 2-year-old son, Simon. J.P. Jepp works for Shell Oil Co., and both worked for nonprofit groups until recently, Astin said.

The chances of giving birth to identical quadruplets is about one in 13 million, Key said.

"This is a very big medical event," he said. "Identical quadruplets are extremely rare."

Medical literature indicates there are less than 50 sets of identical quadruplets, said Dr. Jamie Grifo, director of the NYU Fertility Center in New York.

The last reported set were born in April 2006 to a 26-year-old Indian woman.

The Jepps drove 325 miles to Great Falls for the births because hospitals in Calgary were at capacity, Key said.

"The difficulty is that Calgary continues to grow at such a rapid rate. ... The population has increased a lot faster than the number of hospital beds," he said.

Two of the girls were to be transferred to a Calgary hospital later Thursday. The other two could be moved Friday if their conditions remain favorable, Key said.

They will likely remain hospitalized for four to six weeks, he said.

"These quads are special," Astin said. "The fact that she carried them 31 weeks and three days is excellent."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2007-08-16 20:36:38
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momnurse21 03:41:14 PM Sep 06 2007

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Sweet heavenly blessings from the Lord.

Riley362 11:01:00 PM Aug 22 2007

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happy for the parents too btw

Riley362 10:58:00 PM Aug 22 2007

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Haha... gotta love all of the religious zealots on here...

ladydewittone 10:08:22 PM Aug 22 2007

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Congrats on the babies!! You must enjoy because you won't have a moment to yourself for the next 6 yrs at least. And while we're at it..what were they drinking when they named these beautiful little girls??? Dahlia??? Calissa?? Autumn??? Ok I agree with different, unique names but come on...do we have to make them seem like 90 yo women already?? Why not Rebecca or Emily?? Names that are normal?? I wish them lucky..with 5 kids under 5 they are in for a reallllllllllll treat!!!!!

DKQuann 09:56:22 PM Aug 22 2007

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Every baby is a miracle - a gift from God and deserved to be loved. Praise God!

Pookylove333 09:20:12 PM Aug 22 2007

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God bless the happy family.

babs6060 07:19:23 PM Aug 22 2007

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I BET THAT A SIGN IS OUTSIDE THE HOME BABY SITTERS NEEDED

babs6060 07:17:58 PM Aug 22 2007

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MY HUSBAND IS A TWIN NOT IDENTICAL THANK GOD MY TWIN IS HANDSOME AND SMART AND THE OTHER ONE HAS A NOSE LIKE THE MAN ON ROUTE TWO......NOW HOW DID THAT HAPPEN

mitsys70 07:07:00 PM Aug 22 2007

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HOW PRECIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Laurus nobilis13 06:27:49 PM Aug 22 2007

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Also.. to all those naysayers and morons blabbing about fertility treatments... identical ANYTHING is a genetic anomaly and are not genetic. Completely random events. Non-Identical twins and other multiples are the ones that can run in families and the higher order multiples are more common with fertility procedures and medications.

If these parents are loving and are able to raise lots of kids (multiples or not) who are you to say they shouldn't have them?

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