In brief
On 14 July a 34‑year‑old mother delivered four identical girls at 28 weeks and four days, a birth that doctors describe as one in 15 million. The pregnancy, monitored at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, involved shared placenta and extreme high‑risk care. The newborns—Emily, Harriet, Catherine, and Alexa—are currently thriving in the neonatal intensive care unit. The family has launched a fundraising campaign for a family van, and the story has sparked widespread awe and support.
Rare Identical Quadruplets Born in Australia
On 14 July a 34‑year‑old woman gave birth to four identical girls at 28 weeks and four days, a birth that specialists describe as one in 15 million.
The four babies—Emily, Harriet, Catherine and Alexa—were delivered via caesarean section and share a single placenta, a situation unheard of in naturally conceived quadruplets.
Dr Alexa Bendall, the maternal‑fetal medicine specialist who cared for the mother throughout the pregnancy, noted the case as a "very high‑risk" one and highlighted the mother’s remarkable resilience in avoiding complications.
The newborns are currently in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit, where doctors report they are doing "extremely well".
With children ranging from one to ten years old, the parents have also launched a fundraising campaign to purchase a four‑seat van for their new family, and the effort has already raised over A$37,000.
Doctors explain that naturally conceived quadruplets occur at a rate of about one in 700,000 births, underscoring the extraordinary nature of this family's welcome.
