Being pregnant during the coronavirus pandemic definitely adds extra stress to what is already quite an overwhelming time. So try to imagine being Jenny Marr, who gave birth to not one but four little boys in May this year.
Jenny and her husband Chris, who live in Dallas, Texas, beat 1 in 15 million odds when they discovered they were expecting identical quadruplets. Their babies were conceived naturally, and according to Inside Edition, there are only 72 known cases of identical quads in the world.
Being told that you’re pregnant with four babies must be an awful lot to take in. While many of us would find it a happy surprise to discover we’re having twins, quadruples is an awful lot to plan for – especially if you had only ever imagined being a mom of one or two.
But fate often has a way of getting in the way of our intentions, as Jenny herself found out. Recalling the moment she learned of just how many babies she’d be having, Jenny said that she had noticed a strange look cross her doctor’s face.
She initially panicked that there was something wrong with her babies, but her doctor reassured her that her baby’s heartbeat was fine – there were just three of them. At her next ultrasound, yet another baby was detected, taking the grand total up to four.
Jenny remembered saying:
“I said, ‘No. We can’t have four babies. Like, no way.'”
But four babies is exactly what Jenny and Chris had, in the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas. Jenny’s pregnancy had had its risks, as all four babies shared one placenta. Luckily, the babies received equal amounts of nourishment.
The labor, at least, wasn’t too intense, and Jenny gave birth to her boys all within 3 minutes. They were kept in the neonatal intensive care unit, where special protocols had been put in place to keep them healthy during the pandemic.
It must have been an unusual time to give birth, as Jenny and Chris weren’t allowed to invite family and friends to share their joy with them.
At a time when they could have done with an extra pair of hands, they were all alone, with their only company being their family dog. But they were prepared to tackle their parenting duties head-on, even if it was proving quite a challenge.
So how on earth do Jenny and Chris manage to tell their four boys apart? According to Jenny, the pair have an “order” that they do their best to lay the boys out in.
Confusingly, the little guys all have names beginning with “H”: Harrison, Hardy, Henry and Hudson. Let’s hope they develop some distinctive features as they grow up!
Adorably, the babies are already developing a brotherly bond. Chris said:
“They love each other. They love to be around each other. They actually behave a lot better when they’re right next to each other.”
It might have been a shock to discover they were having quads, but it’s clear that Jenny and Chris are loving every minute of parenthood. We wish the new family of six all the best in the chaotic years that are bound to follow.
You can find adorable video footage of the quad boys just below.
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