Quadruplets born to IVF parents; miracle birth as four bubs hit four month milestone

A pair of new Queensland parents have described their combined shock and joy in welcoming a set of quadruplets after a “lucky” IVF experience.

Mater miracle Quads Eddie, Archie, Louis and Anna Joshi. Pic: Annette Dew

A Queensland couple’s dream to become parents has delivered four times the joy after a “lucky” IVF experience.

Ipswich couple Yogesh and Aruna Joshi welcomed quadruplets, Louis, Eddie, Archie and Anna, 11 weeks early with the babies spending over 90 days in intensive care battling constant breathing difficulties and infections.

The now four month old babies are back home in the loving arms of their parents and with the help of grandma are working to split their time between the siblings.

Describing when they first found out more than one baby would be joining their family, Mr Joshi said: “the doctor said there might be two babies in there, and then he said, ‘No, actually there’s four!’.”

“It’s amazing and it was unexpected. They are our much-wanted babies.”

Due on January 5, the quadruplets arrived on October 21, with Archie the smallest weighing just 593 grams. Anna weighed 805 grams, Eddie 1050 grams and Louis 1185 grams.

The couple described the journey to bring home their “four precious miracles” home had at times been very daunting.

Mater miracle Quads , Eddie, Anna, Archie and Louis with parents Yogesh and Aruna Joshi. Pic: Annette Dew

“Anna, our only daughter, spent about 100 days in hospital, and Archie, Eddie and Louis were there for about 90 days, receiving continuous care as they battled breathing difficulties and infections,” Mr Joshi said.

Despite their early arrival, Louis, Eddie, Anna and Archie had a world-leading team of doctors, nurses, midwives and allied health clinicians on their side during their time in Mater’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where they received around-the-clock care.

Mrs Joshi said her dream of becoming a mother had “finally come true”.

“I am a bit tired, but I am glad they are healthy and home from hospital now,” she said.

“Anna still needs a feeding tube and Archie is on oxygen and has a feeding tube, but they are growing much bigger day by day.”

Mr Joshi described how the couple got lucky after only one round of IVF knowing they could be up for multiple tries to conceive a baby.

“We got very lucky to only have to go through one round of IVF, because so many people go through so many,” he said.

Mater Centre for Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) Dr Phoebe Swan said the hospitals sonographers kept a close eye on the quadruplets throughout Mrs Joshi’s pregnancy.

“Normally when we look at the anatomy of one baby that takes about 30 to 45 minutes. With four Aruna had to come for more than one appointment just to complete the routine anatomy scan,” Dr Swan said.

“It was really lovely to be able to provide continuity of care for Aruna and to be part of the wonderful MFM team that cared for the family before, during and after the births.”

Mr Joshi described the moment the siblings were reunited for the first time at home just a few weeks ago.

“We bought home two babies first, then one more a few weeks later, and finally the fourth baby came home. It was the first time in a long time they had all been together,” he said.

As the Nepalese nationals settle into life with quadruplets, Mrs Joshi’s mother Geeta Singh has travelled from Nepal to help with endless bottle feeds and nappy changes.

“We are planning to keep grandma here for as long as possible,” Mr Joshi said.

“The hardest part for Aruna and I is dividing our time between them all.”