Quadruple rarity: Birth of four identical girls at Sutter Memorial a 1-in-11 million event

sacbee.com ^ | PST Tuesday, March 26, 2002 | By Cynthia Hubert -- Bee Staff Writer

[let freedom sing]

Of the hundreds of thousands of babies who have made their debuts at Sutter Memorial Hospital over the decades, the Khamsa quadruplets just might be the most remarkable.

Delivered minutes after midnight Monday by a small army of doctors and nurses that had anticipated their arrival for months, they are very special girls.

[let freedom sing]

The couple plan to marry soon, they said.

[Aquinasfan]

Wow! I can't imagine what it would be like to have three other people walking around who looked just like me.

[Paradox]

Adding to the wonder of the four newborns who are being closely monitored at the Sacramento hospital is the fact that they were conceived "spontaneously," or without the aid of fertility drugs, an extremely unusual situation in cases of "multiples," doctors said.

This part is pretty stupid, and here is why. Fertility drugs lead to multizygotic births, that is, multiple babies due to multiple eggs. In this case, being identical, it has already been established that this is a monozygotic event. Therefore, the "added wonder" of the non-drug induced multiple births is superfluous.

Any of you medical types, please correct me if neccessary.

[Consort]

Too much fourplay.

[Sloth]

That's what I thought... sounds stupid to me. Fertility drugs produce fraternals, not identicals.

[OldFriend]

Was in a restaurant a few years ago and there was a family with identical triplet boys. They left the table and when one boy came back (they appeared to be about 4 or 5 yrs. old) the Mom said.......which one are you?

I tutored five year old identical twin boys and could always tell them apart.

[linn37]

how fourtunate

[Wrigley]

Hey look here.

[Stone Mountain]

One in 11 million? The mom must be exhausted... : )

[ValerieUSA]

I was born at Sutter Memorial Hospital, so was my sister, Dana - but in different years, not on the same day.

[Koblenz]

Mom is 20 and has a four year old?

[SuziQ]

Mom is 20 and has a four year old?

Makes you wonder why he didn't marry her 5 years ago? Whatever the situation between the Mom and Dad, I'll be keeping those little babies in my prayers. One preemie is nerve wracking, enough, I couldn't even IMAGINE what it must feel like with four!

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

The couple plan to marry soon, they said. They also have a 4 year old son

I guess after 5 kids it's time to think about making a serious committment.

[pragmatic]

Cassidy said she is aware of only 26 sets of identical quads born since 1930, 17 of them female.

Oddly, I think one set of them are currently dating Hugh Hefner.

[let freedom sing]

age 16 third world child-bearers are answer the call for cheap business labor.

[let freedom sing]

are answer

oops

[NewHampshireDuo]

No, mom is 22, the father (Muy) is 20. Though being the parents of 5 children as a 22 and 20 year old parent, is going to be an eye opener for these 2 individuals. I wish them luck...

[LibertyGirl77]

Perhaps 1 in 11 million, say specialists at the hospital.

Did you know 47.3% of all statistics are made up on the spot? :)

Seriously, prayers for the young family and kudos to them for their decision to marry.

[ChadGore]

This deserves to be repeated: "The couple plan to marry soon, they said."

[ValerieUSA]

My cousin in San Bernardino was pregnant with twins 24 years ago and postponed plans to marry her ne'er-do-well boyfriend until the month after they were born so the state of Californicate would pick up the hospital bill.