… Couple Waited 11 Years For First Child Before Quadruplets’ Arrival
Toyyibat Qasim
A 44-year-old caterer, Mrs Stella Omokhepen Olayioye, has appealed to the Ogun State Government, corporate organisations and well-meaning Nigerians for financial assistance after delivering quadruplets in Abeokuta, following a pregnancy in which repeated scans indicated that she was carrying triplets.
Olayioye, mother of one, who delivered two boys and two girls through a Caesarean section at Atoke Medical Centre, Abeokuta, on November 7, said the discovery of a fourth baby during the operation came as a stunning surprise to her and the medical team.
The mother, who had reportedly undergone between eight and 10 ultrasound scans during her pregnancy, said every examination indicated three babies, leaving the family completely unprepared for the arrival of an additional newborn.
Speaking with PLATFORM TIMES, she described the unexpected fourth baby as a miracle but said the joy of welcoming four children at once had been accompanied by anxiety over the enormous financial responsibility of raising them.
Olayioye, said they waited 11 years after beginning their relationship in 2011 before welcoming their first child, now four years old.
She said although she and her husband had been hoping to have another child, they never imagined that their family would suddenly expand by four babies.
“In the theatre room, when I heard there was a fourth child, it was a shock. It was a miracle. I was shocked because throughout the pregnancy, the scans never showed four children. The scans only showed three children,” she said.
While expressing gratitude for the safe delivery, Olayioye said the excitement surrounding the birth could soon give way to the reality of providing for four infants whose needs would require substantial and sustained financial resources.
“Everybody is happy, but only a few might think about the other side, how we will raise these children. After the merriment and everything, the reality comes. How do we raise these children?” she lamented.
She appealed to the Ogun State Government, philanthropists, corporate bodies and Nigerians at home and abroad to assist the family in meeting the needs of the quadruplets.
The caterer said she and her husband were determined to shoulder their parental responsibilities but would need public support to provide adequate feeding, healthcare and other necessities for the babies.
Explaining the circumstances surrounding the unusual delivery, the consultant gynaecologist and surgeon in charge, Dr Taofeeq Ogunfunmilayo, said the woman had commenced antenatal care at the hospital at about 10 weeks of pregnancy.
He disclosed that between eight and 10 ultrasound examinations conducted during the pregnancy consistently showed three babies, prompting the medical team to prepare for the delivery of triplets.
Ogunfunmilayo said the decision to deliver the babies at 34 weeks through Caesarean section was informed by the woman’s medical history, including two previous surgeries.
According to him, the operation initially proceeded as anticipated, with the first three babies successfully delivered before the medical team noticed another membrane while preparing to deliver the placenta.
He said the discovery forced the team to immediately adjust its procedure, leading to the unexpected emergence of the fourth baby.
“At the Caesarean section, we prepared for three because the scans had consistently shown three babies there. We delivered the first one, the second one, the third one.
“As we were about to deliver the placenta, we just saw another membrane. Immediately, we had to rupture the membrane, and the head of the baby just popped out. So, that was how we ended up with four babies at a time,” the doctor explained.
He said the delivery was handled by a team of experienced medical personnel, including paediatricians, anaesthetists and senior gynaecologists.
The gynaecologist expressed relief that both the mother and the four babies were doing well after the operation, adding that the fourth baby cried immediately after delivery and did not experience any complication.
He further disclosed that the babies were receiving breast milk supplemented with infant formula, considering the demands of feeding four newborns.
However, Ogunfunmilayo warned that the responsibility of raising quadruplets would impose considerable financial and emotional pressure on the parents, particularly because the expenses associated with caring for four infants would be continuous.
He listed infant formula, diapers, clothing, medical attention and education among the major expenses the family would have to contend with as the children grow.
The doctor appealed to individuals, organisations and government agencies to support the family, urging the media to draw public attention to their circumstances to enable them to receive assistance.
He also described the delivery as an unusual and memorable experience for the medical team, expressing satisfaction that the operation ended successfully.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
'