Australian woman gives birth to rare identical quadruplet daughters
An Australian couple has welcomed naturally conceived identical quadruplet daughters, a rare occurrence estimated at one in 15 million. Medical experts and other parents of multiples have shared advice and well-wishes for the family as they navigate the challenges of raising four infants.
Jenitar Na'amoana and her husband, Jortham, thought their family was complete after welcoming four children. Then came an unexpected surprise: four naturally conceived, identical daughters.Na'amoana, 34, gave birth to Emily, Harriet, Catherine and Alexa last week. "The fact that we've got four beautiful, healthy babies born at 28 weeks and four days is incredible," said Dr. Alexa Bendall of the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. All four daughters share 100% of their DNA after a single fertilized egg split into four embryos, making the pregnancy a one-in-15-million occurrence. In 2020, the Marr family in Dallas welcomed their own set of naturally conceived identical quadruplets: Harrison, Henry, Hardy and Hudson.Jenny Marr believes that, whatever the odds, they've won four jackpots in the same genetic lottery."You're just overwhelmed and just exhausted and sleep-deprived, and you've got four babies that are hopefully all on a sleep schedule that you can manage, but it is four times the joy," Marr told CBS NewsMarr's advice to Jenitar and Jortham Na'amoana: stick to your sleep schedule."Because that's how you're going to survive," Marr said. "Make sure mom takes care of herself. I hope they're just healthy little girls and meet all their milestones, and it's so, so exciting."
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