Shalee and Andy McCarter used fertility treatments to get pregnant. At first doctors thought it was triplets. It wasn't until Shalee's 18-week checkup that the ultrasound revealed she was actually carrying quadruplets.
The quads were born at 34 weeks, 52 days after Shalee was admitted to hospital. The doctors performed a cesarean section to guarantee the health of mother and children.
All four babies ... born in a two minute window. Shalee says, "It flew by. I didn't even know that she had cut me open and they were coming. And there was crying so that was pretty cool."
Jack Andrew, weighing 4 pounds, 9 ounces. Shalee says, "Jack is easy going, doesn't get upset about much, likes to hang out and eat."
Emmett Axel, weighing 4 pounds, 4.8 ounces. Shalee says, "Emmett is the smallest, but has the most personality and lets you know when he's hungry!"
Blakelee Kay, weighing 4 pounds, 7.6 ounces. Shalee says, "Blakelee is our little princess. She's super sweet and very laid back."
Beau Ryan, weighing 4 pounds, 14.3 ounces. Shalee says, "Beau is the bum out of all of them - he just lays there and even sleeps through his bath!"
Everyone says it was teamwork, from the family, to the nurses and doctors, that helped Shalee delivery four healthy babies. The new mom says, "We're so lucky. Yeah, it's amazing that they are doing so well. It's really awesome."
The delivery of the premature quadruplets was carried out by a full medical team of no less than 18 staff members. This consisted of doctors and nurses, respiratory therapists, phlebotomists, clerks, residents, and neonatologists and was led by Dr. Ann Anderson-Berry of the Nebraska Medical Center.
Teresa Berg, MD - Medical Director of Women's Services says, "We had a NICU team for every baby. We had four warmers. And we didn't realize it til we got in the room, but the nurses had marked their masks with which baby they had so the NICU nurses all had a letter on their face masks for who was supposed to take which baby so they didn't get confused and go to the wrong warmer as they were bringing babies out."
After spending nearly a month in the newborn intensive care unit, all four babies are now at home with their parents and 10-year-old sister, Elle.
The family is so excited to have everyone at home. Shalee says, "Elle is especially thrilled to have a baby sister. She already says Blakelee is her best friend already so its really neat."
