A woman couldn’t believe her ears or eyes when doctors revealed she was expecting quadruplets. Due to the risks involved, medical professionals suggested she keep only two of the four babies—but the mother refused.
Kendall MacDonald and her husband, Josh MacDonald, couldn’t wait to take the next step in their marriage. They dreamed about having children, and the Timaru, New Zealand couple was surprised when they welcomed their first child, Brooklyn.
Kendall had struggled with various health issues, and she knew conceiving might be challenging. Their little boy was a blessing, and after two months, they started trying to fall pregnant again. However, the journey was much different than what they expected.
The Much-Hoped-for Pregnancy
Kendall desperately wanted a sibling for her son, but doctors warned her that she might struggle to carry a baby full term. The mother also suffered a heartbreaking miscarriage, and after three years of trying for baby number two, they got some external help.
Medical treatments didn’t work at first, but in 2018, the couple received the good news they were longing for. Doctors confirmed the much-hoped-for pregnancy, but there was something else they needed to tell the mother.
The mother couldn’t grasp the thought of losing her unborn babies and she knew she had a tough choice to make.
An Unexpected Development
At Kendall’s nine-week check-up, health professionals did numerous scans that revealed unexpected developments. There was more than one baby, and the news caught Kendall off guard. She was carrying four children! The mother shared:
“It was a huge shock. We were almost in disbelief because multiples of anything don’t run in either of our families. I never expected it.”
The Heartbreaking News
The couple celebrated the miracle and likely started dreaming about being a family of seven. But their joy didn’t last very long. At Kendall’s 12-week scan, doctors gave her their professional opinion, which was heartbreaking.
The medical staff explained the risks of carrying and giving birth to quadruplets, making a grim suggestion. Kendall explained:
“It was suggested for the sake of my health and my babies’ health that I reduce my pregnancy by one set of twins.”
The mother couldn’t grasp the thought of losing her unborn babies and knew she had a tough choice to make. The couple had two weeks to decide whether they would reduce the pregnancy and sought the opinion of additional specialists.
Choosing to Keep All Four Babies
While one doctor agreed with Kendall’s obstetrician’s advice, another was uncertain. Kendall recalled them saying she should go ahead with the pregnancy because she had no issues thus far.
The couple knew Kendall needed to reach the 28-week term if they wanted their babies to survive. It was challenging, but they persevered and chose to keep all four unborn infants. The pregnancy was stressful for Kendall, and she added:
“We were told not to buy any baby items or get ahead of ourselves because there were just so many risks.”
Welcoming the Little Ones into the World
By week 25, Kendall and her husband moved closer to the medical facility, and at the 28-week mark, she went into labor.
It was a three-day ordeal, but Kendall experienced no pain. She couldn’t believe she had gone into labor, and the doctors worked hard to bring all four children into the world safe and sound.
Surgeons delivered Quinn, Indie, Hudson, and Molly successfully. While the babies were tiny, they were bigger than doctors had expected, but they still needed to spend time in the NICU
A Proud Mother of Five
After seven weeks of intensive care, Kendall was allowed to hug her quadruplets. A further three weeks elapsed before the little ones were allowed to go home, but it was all worth it for the mother and father.
While baby Molly needed extra time in the hospital, everything was on track for them to grow and develop well. Kendall only felt like a mother of five 12 weeks after she gave birth when it finally sank in.
New Zealand’s First Quads in Two Decades
To commemorate the significant birth of New Zealand’s first set of quadruplets in 20 years, baby photographer Cassandra English had a photoshoot with them. The session was special and captured the little ones beautifully.
Kendall said raising five kids was not easy, but she added that it was “easier than we expected it to be.” She saw her four healthy babies as miracles and was grateful for them every day. We wish them many happy years together.
