Against the odds, a Texas couple wanting to bring a new brother or sister home for their son wound up having quadruplets according to ABC News on Feb. 18. The two sets of identical twins were born on Valentine’s Day.
Tressa Montalvo, 36, and her husband Manuel Montalvo Jr., 43, welcomed their new sons, Ace, Blaine, Cash and Dylan at the Woman’s Hospital of Texas in Houston. Ace and Blaine shared one placenta while Cash and Dylan shared another.
The couple was aware they were having twins until their doctor told them of a third fetal heartbeat. At that point, they were referred to a maternal fetal medicine specialist. Dr. Brian Kirshon was the one who located the fourth fetal heartbeat.
Identical twins occur when a single fertilized egg splits and two embryos are created. This happens in about two percent of all pregnancies. The odds of having two sets of identical twins at the same time are about one in 10,000 with IVF and even rarer with natural conception according to NYU Fertility Center specialist Sr. James Griflo.
Tressa says the pregnancy was completely natural. While it was planned, she says no fertility drugs were used.
Multiple births present many risks and challenges, the largest being early delivery and restricted growth. The Montalvo babies made it to 31 weeks and were delivered by C-section. Their birth weights were recorded at between 2 pounds, 15 ounces and 3 pounds, 15 ounces.
When they first learned they were expecting four babies instead of two or three, Manuel says they couldn’t have been more surprised. They just wanted a sibling for their two-and-a-half year old son, Memphis. Manuel says they aren’t done yet…they still want a little girl.