Canadian Jepp Quadruplets Born In USA
Quadruplets
Jepp Quadruplets
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Karen Jepp, a 35-year-old Canadian woman from Calgary, Alberta has given birth to rare identical quadruplets, officials at a Great Falls hospital said.
Karen delivered Autumn, Brooke, Calissa and Dahlia by Caesarian section Sunday August 12, 2007 at Benefis Healthcare, said Amy Astin, the hospital's director of community relations.
The four girls were breathing on their own and were listed in good condition Thursday.
Dr. Tom Key, the perinatologist who delivered the girls, said "These babies are doing grand,"
The babies were born about two months early and were conceived without fertility drugs, he said. They weighed between 2.6 pounds and 2.15 pounds.
The chances of giving birth to identical quadruplets is about one in 13 million, Key said.
"This is a very big medical event," he said. "Identical quadruplets are extremely rare."
The Jepps drove 325 miles to Great Falls for the births because hospitals in Calgary were at capacity, Key said.
"The difficulty is that Calgary continues to grow at such a rapid rate. The population has increased a lot faster than the number of hospital beds," he said.
Two of the girls were to be transferred to a Calgary hospital later Thursday. The other two could be moved Friday if their conditions remain favorable, Key said.
They will likely remain hospitalized for four to six weeks, he said.
"These quads are special," Astin said. "The fact that she carried them 31 weeks and three days is excellent."
