Get Guardian on GoogleA 44-year-old caterer, Mrs Stella Omokhepen Olayioye, has appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun, corporate organisations and public-spirited individuals for financial support after giving birth to quadruplets in Abeokuta, despite repeated antenatal scans indicating that she was expecting triplets.
The mother of one gave birth to two boys and two girls through a Caesarean section at Atoke Medical Centre, Abeokuta, on November 7. She said both she and the medical team that operated on her were shocked by the unexpected discovery of the fourth baby.
Olayioye disclosed that she had undergone between eight and 10 ultrasound scans throughout the pregnancy, all of which consistently indicated that she was expecting triplets. The unexpected arrival of the fourth baby, she said, prompted the family to seek support from the government and other well-meaning Nigerians.
She described the arrival of the fourth baby as a miracle, saying that while the birth brought immense joy to the family, it also created a financial burden.
Olayioye said she and her husband waited 11 years after beginning their relationship in 2011 before welcoming their first child, who is now four years old.
She said although the couple had hoped to have another child, they never anticipated that their family would be blessed with four babies at once.
“In the theatre room, when I heard there was a fourth child, it was a shock. It was a miracle.
I was shocked because throughout the pregnancy, the scans never showed four children. The scans only showed three children,” she said.
The housewife expressed gratitude for the successful delivery but voiced concern over the huge financial burden of raising the babies. She appealed for financial support from the government, corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals.
The woman said she and her husband were determined to shoulder their parental responsibilities but would need public support to provide adequate feeding, healthcare and other necessities for the babies.
The consultant gynaecologist and surgeon in charge, Dr Taofeeq Ogunfunmilayo, said the woman had commenced antenatal care at the hospital at about 10 weeks of pregnancy.
He disclosed that between eight and 10 ultrasound examinations conducted during the pregnancy consistently showed three babies, prompting the medical team to prepare for the delivery of triplets.
Ogunfunmilayo said the decision to deliver the babies at 34 weeks through a Caesarean section was informed by the woman’s medical history, including two previous surgeries.
According to him, the operation initially proceeded as anticipated, with the first three babies successfully delivered before the medical team noticed another membrane while preparing to deliver the placenta.
He said the discovery forced the team to immediately adjust its procedure, leading to the unexpected emergence of the fourth baby.
