Kayla Gilnes, who had triplets before, had quads after conceiving with the help of fertility medication. Kayla Glines has many reasons to rejoice, including being the world’s first TRIPLET to give birth to QUADS.
Kayla, 32, gave birth to four children against all odds: Reese, Jameson, Oaklee, and Lincoln. Her incredible tale spans over a decade of hope, patience, sorrow, and eventually, unrestrained joy as her dream of starting a family with her husband Allen became a reality. Five years ago she fell pregnant with triplets after fertility treatment. Two of the tots survived but one passed away in the womb. So when she conceived again – this time naturally – Kayla was staggered to discover she was due to have four more children.
She said: “We just couldn’t believe it when I went for a scan and the doctor told me that I was pregnant with quads. They had been trying for years to conceive naturally, so learning she was having four babies was wonderful, especially because she was a triplet herself.
Kayla added: “Sometimes Allen and I can’t believe what has happened to us. We spent 10 years trying for a family and now we have a massive family of eight children and us!”
The full-time mum explained: “Allen and I were devastated. We had always wanted a family. We had been trying for years to fall pregnant and yet it had never happened.
“We sat down and discussed what we were going to do, as we couldn’t even imagine not being parents.
“Allen and I loved the girls dearly and if it would help my brother not to struggle, then we decided it was the way forward for us. Four years later, the couple decided to start fertility treatment, to see if Kayla could finally conceive a baby of their own.
She managed to fall pregnant with triplets, but at 27 weeks tragedy struck when one of the babies, a little girl who the couple had named Allie, was in the womb.
Kayla added: “They were so tiny and needed to go straight into intensive care, but at least they were alive. The twins spent three months in the hospital before doctors said they were well enough to go home. It was amazing when we finally brought them home, but we were still reeling from Allie. And that meant that part of me still felt that there was something missing.
“So Allen and I decided that although we wouldn’t try any more fertility treatment if I fell pregnant again it would be lovely to have another baby. They were all well aware of the hazards of carrying several infants at the same time. Kayla got the mother of all surprises when she lay down on the scanning table and the sonographer ran the scanner over her stomach. Expecting to see one heartbeat, Kayla watched agog as one, two, three, and finally, four appeared.
Kayla recalled: “It was quadruplets. And naturally occurring ones too – because this time I hadn’t taken any fertility drugs at all. “It just felt so surreal, like a dream. I even had to take a couple of days off work, just to get my head around being pregnant with four babies.
“The pregnancy was hard. I was so sick and every day I was terrified that I was going to one or more of the babies. We had been through it before and I didn’t think we could cope with losing anymore. “We set goals week by week. I reached week 24 and despite the risks, I eventually made it to 30 weeks pregnant without any of the babies.”
Oaklee and Lincoln were their two beautiful young girls, and Jamesen and Reese were their two handsome sons. As a result, they now have six children, all of whom are under the age of two. In addition, our family’s schedule is demanding. “Sometimes Allen and I can’t believe what has happened to us. We spent 10 years trying for a family, and now we have a massive one!”
Medics are amazed at Kayla’s experience. Shazia Malik, a consultant obstetrician, and gynecologist at the prestigious Portland Hospital in London, said: “This is an incredible story and despite the fact that twin pregnancies can be more likely with historic cases, we find with triplets and upwards, this is normally a random by a chance incident unless there has been some fertility treatment. “I have never heard of this before and I do believe it is a world first.”
