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Premature quadruplets home for Christmas in Birmingham | Premature quadruplets home for Christmas in Birmingham |
(about 17 hours later) | |
A set of quadruplets born 10 weeks premature have been reunited at home in time for Christmas. | A set of quadruplets born 10 weeks premature have been reunited at home in time for Christmas. |
Ginger, Brodie, Trixie and Keiko were born by Caesarean section to parents Kirsty and Richard Jackson Fuller. | Ginger, Brodie, Trixie and Keiko were born by Caesarean section to parents Kirsty and Richard Jackson Fuller. |
Weighing between 2lb 1oz and 2lb 12oz at birth, all four girls had illnesses, with one becoming so poorly her parents were warned to prepare for the worst. | Weighing between 2lb 1oz and 2lb 12oz at birth, all four girls had illnesses, with one becoming so poorly her parents were warned to prepare for the worst. |
But at three months old, the last two have just been given the all-clear from Birmingham Women's Hospital. | But at three months old, the last two have just been given the all-clear from Birmingham Women's Hospital. |
Top tips for raising quadruplets | |
The couple, from Birmingham, had IVF treatment in March and first knew they might be having an unusual pregnancy when Mrs Jackson Fuller had her first test at a private clinic. | The couple, from Birmingham, had IVF treatment in March and first knew they might be having an unusual pregnancy when Mrs Jackson Fuller had her first test at a private clinic. |
"I think the nurse's exact words to me were, 'you've got a belly full of babies'," said Mrs Jackson Fuller, a web developer, 35. | "I think the nurse's exact words to me were, 'you've got a belly full of babies'," said Mrs Jackson Fuller, a web developer, 35. |
At their first scan, the news was confirmed. | At their first scan, the news was confirmed. |
The mother added: "The midwife looked at the screen and said, 'there's one, there's two, there's three...' and then people just started coming in the room. | The mother added: "The midwife looked at the screen and said, 'there's one, there's two, there's three...' and then people just started coming in the room. |
"She just looked at us deadpan and said: 'There's four of them'. | "She just looked at us deadpan and said: 'There's four of them'. |
"I'm a twin - and I would've liked triplets - but we weren't prepared for four." | "I'm a twin - and I would've liked triplets - but we weren't prepared for four." |
The couple were given the choice of selective reduction, but Mrs Jackson Fuller said that "was never going to be an option for us". | The couple were given the choice of selective reduction, but Mrs Jackson Fuller said that "was never going to be an option for us". |
She stated: "We must have been told 10 times that they weren't all going to make it." | She stated: "We must have been told 10 times that they weren't all going to make it." |
The pregnancy progressed well until Keiko became poorly with absent placental flow and stopped growing. | The pregnancy progressed well until Keiko became poorly with absent placental flow and stopped growing. |
At 30 weeks and two days, Mrs Jackson Fuller arrived at hospital in September to have elective surgery only to be told there was not a bed. Then her waters broke. | At 30 weeks and two days, Mrs Jackson Fuller arrived at hospital in September to have elective surgery only to be told there was not a bed. Then her waters broke. |
"If it hadn't been for Keiko's illness, we wouldn't have been in hospital and my waters would have broken at home. I don't believe in fate, but really, she saved all of them." | "If it hadn't been for Keiko's illness, we wouldn't have been in hospital and my waters would have broken at home. I don't believe in fate, but really, she saved all of them." |
It was thought the sisters may have to be split up, but four neonatal beds were found at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and they were transferred that night. | It was thought the sisters may have to be split up, but four neonatal beds were found at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and they were transferred that night. |
After two weeks, they were brought to Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital and at four weeks old they were back at the women's hospital. | After two weeks, they were brought to Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital and at four weeks old they were back at the women's hospital. |
All suffered breathing difficulties. Ginger had to undergo laser eye surgery to avoid detached retinas, and Brodie contracted necrotising enterocolitis - a swelling of the abdomen that can be fatal in premature babies. | All suffered breathing difficulties. Ginger had to undergo laser eye surgery to avoid detached retinas, and Brodie contracted necrotising enterocolitis - a swelling of the abdomen that can be fatal in premature babies. |
But all four have battled to full health. | But all four have battled to full health. |
They are in the sitting room, in their own special cardboard box pioneered by Finnish health chiefs, and the parents are doing six-hour shifts overnight so they both get a good chunk of sleep. | They are in the sitting room, in their own special cardboard box pioneered by Finnish health chiefs, and the parents are doing six-hour shifts overnight so they both get a good chunk of sleep. |
The biggest task before Christmas is how to make the trip to the doctor's surgery up the road, in their specially-made, four-and-a-half stone, four-berth pram. | The biggest task before Christmas is how to make the trip to the doctor's surgery up the road, in their specially-made, four-and-a-half stone, four-berth pram. |
Mr Jackson Fuller, 39, a journalist, said: "We're going to need a bigger car, and eventually we'll need a bigger house." | Mr Jackson Fuller, 39, a journalist, said: "We're going to need a bigger car, and eventually we'll need a bigger house." |
Mrs Jackson Fuller said: "If we had one baby, we'd probably be splashing out, buying a fancy changing table and other things. | Mrs Jackson Fuller said: "If we had one baby, we'd probably be splashing out, buying a fancy changing table and other things. |
"But with four, we can't afford to splash out. We're going to stick to the basics and we'll get by." | "But with four, we can't afford to splash out. We're going to stick to the basics and we'll get by." |
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