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Dr. Kim Mulvihill reportingA bay area woman gave birth to quadruplets earlier this week. The births of these four babies is so unusual because the mom got pregnant with the help of just the man in her life.
With a wrist full of id-bands, cameras snapping away, and a son eager to help, Luz Maria Marmolejo answered some questions about her very unique pregnancy.
Luz Maria Marmolejo/ Gave Birth to Quadruplets: "We were just open-mouthed and shocked, and we couldn't say anything."
With a history of twins on both sides of the family, Luz Maria thought she was having twins. But an ultrasound at eight weeks found something far more unusual.
Luz Maria Marmolejo: "She kept on looking and said, 'No, wait a minute. I see another baby.' And then I said, 'Stop searching.' 'No, I think I see two in the same sac. I think you are having four.'"
What did she say?
Luz Maria: "Nothing. We were all very in shock."
In shock because the pregnancy happened the old-fashioned way, without the aid of fertility drugs or in-vitro fertilization.
Say hi to David and Kamilia and identical twins Roni and Dror. Perinatologist doctor James Smith says having identical twins makes the pregnancy even more extraordinary.
Dr. Smith: "As best we can tell, probably about one in a million. Definitely the family is one in a million."
The delivery -- by c-section -- was well attended.
Dr. Smith: "There were 14 people in the room and obviously all of a sudden there were four more."
Four little babies, each weighing in at a little over two pounds. They were born three months early.
Perinatologist doctor Ashima Madan says the babies will probably be in the hospital till December. The babies actually are doing quite well, especially considering that there were four of them.
Big brother Fernando says he has lots to celebrate when he turns nine tomorrow.
"Very amused. Very excited. There's going to be a lot of parties in September."
As for what's ahead, lots of diapers and then a team sport.
"My brothers, my dad and me, we're going to be a basketball team because my dad said there's five in a basketball team. My little sister is going to be the cheerleader."
Luz Maria is thirty-nine. Her age could have played a role in why it took her nearly a year to get pregnant. It also may have played a role in this unusual pregnancy. Twins, triplets, and quadruplets are more common as women get older.
