by MOm Gives Birth Quadruplets After 52 Days In Hospital
Shalee and Andy McCarter used fertility treatments to get pregnant. At first doctors thought it was triplets. It wasn’t until Shalee’s 18-week checkup that the ultrasound revealed she was actually carrying quadruplets.
Shalee’s said:” I was really surprised and said, ‘oh wow, four’”. On Jan. 3, at 26 weeks and five days gestation, Shalee started to dilate and have ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴs. She was flown to Nebraska Medicine – Nebraska Medical Center for around-the-clock care. They said the goal was to get the babies to 34-weeks gestation. Shalee said:” I had contraᴄtions the entire time I was in the hospital, but they never got stronger – which was good. My own personal goal was to get to 32 weeks, so to actually get to 34 was awesome.” The quads were born at 34 weeks, 52 days after Shalee was admitted to hospital. The doctors performed a ᴄᴇsᴀʀᴇᴀɴ sᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ to guarantee the health of mother and children.
Jack Andrew, weighing 4 pounds, 9 ounces. Shalee says, “Jack is easy going, doesn’t get upset about much, likes to hang out and eat.” Emmett Axel, weighing 4 pounds, 4.8 ounces. Shalee says, “Emmett is the smallest, but has the most personality and lets you know when he’s hungry!” Blakelee Kay, weighing 4 pounds, 7.6 ounces. Shalee says, “Blakelee is our little princess. She’s super sweet and very laid back.” Beau Ryan, weighing 4 pounds, 14.3 ounces. Shalee says, “Beau is the bum out of all of them – he just lays there and even sleeps through his bath!”
Everyone says it was teamwork, from the family, to the nurses and doctors, that helped Shalee delivery four healthy babies. The new mom says, “We’re so lucky. Yeah, it’s amazing that they are doing so well. It’s really awesome.”
The delivery of the ᴘʀᴇᴍᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ quadruplets was carried out by a full medical team of no less than 18 staff members. This consisted of doctors and nurses, respiratory therapists, phlebotomists, clerks, residents, and neonatologists and was led by Dr. Ann Anderson-Berry of the Nebraska Medical Center.
“We wouldn’t have gotten this far without themThey’re an amazing, caring team of people and we got to know them all so well. There wasn’t a day or hour that went by that some nurse or doctor didn’t stop in my room to see if we needed anything.” Shalee said
After spending nearly a month in the newborn intensive care unit, all four babies are now at home with their parents and 10-year-old sister, Elle. The family is so excited to have everyone at home. Elle, the big sister, is especially thrilled to have a little sister. She already says Blakelee is her best friend so it’s really lovely.
