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Vierlinge by Annegret R. Two preemies need to be ventilated
The four premature babies of 65-year-old Annegret R. are doing well in the circumstances. The children are already getting breast milk. "Two of the babies breathe spontaneously, the other two still need the support of a machine," said Christoph Bührer, director of the Charité Clinic for Neonatology, in conversation. Even the Vierlingsmutter, which now has 17 children, is recovering well from birth.
Quadruplets are "high-risk patients"
The quadruplets, who were born on 19 May by caesarean section, are not yet over the mountain, stress the doctors. Neeta, Dries, Bence and Fjonn were born with only 655 to 960 grams and a size of only 30 to 35 centimeters around 15 weeks before the calculated date of birth.
Image: Tobilander / fotolia "The children need a lot of attention and intensive treatment," reports Bührer. One child had to undergo surgery because it had holes in the small intestine. "Actually the fittest of all fours". She had survived the procedure well, she was "very good". The doctors of the Charité emphasized at the same time, however, that the children continue to count among the "high-risk patients". The risk of permanent damage or development delays is high.
The children already receive breast milk, which is added drop by drop and by gavage. The milk comes partly from Annegret R. and partly from donors. "Astonishingly, this worked with the mother without any hormone. Now she pumps it off, "explains Wolfgang Henrich, director of the Charité Clinic for Obstetrics, to the news agency." Quadruplets are born eight to ten weeks early on average. It was almost 15 weeks here. They are all very fragile, but very sweet, "reports Bührer. But they will stay in hospital until the actual delivery date.
Vierlingsmutter is recovering well from birth
According to the doctors, Annegret R. recovers well from pregnancy and childbirth. "She introduced herself to us after the first trimester of pregnancy. Everything was completely contemporary and inconspicuous, "says Henrich. The large ultrasound in the 22nd week of pregnancy was without abnormalities. "But we know that the health risk of multiple pregnancies is significantly higher, the risk of hypertension, gestational diabetes or thrombosis increased."
Annegret R. had come to the clinic the day before the birth because she was suffering from hypertension and she was not feeling well. In the further course, premature labor sets in. "For us, there was still enough time to prepare the delivery thoroughly," reports Henrich. Four multi-head surgical teams were on hand. Even in the womb, the children were injected with a remedy for the maturation of the lungs. "Then we brought the four to the world on Tuesday at 11 clock in the minute," says the doctor. The operating room and the rooms for the quadruplets were previously heated to 37 degrees. Overall, the birth was without much difficulty.
While the children continue to be treated in neonatology, Annegret R. was transferred to the birth ward after two days in intensive care. "She has recovered excellently and today she is with her children several times a day", says Henrich. She may be leaving the clinic by the end of the week. "I feel better every day," reported the Vierlingsmutter opposite "RTL". "Of course I would have wished that they stay in there longer," she said about the premature birth. The children looked very small and fragile. "Of course this is unusual to touch so delicate limbs and so a delicate body."
Doctors do not comment on the late four-pregnancy
The physicians of the Charité did not criticize the method of procreation of the quadruplets. "For us, the well-being of the children is the focus," emphasizes Bührer. Even Heinrich does not express himself negatively. "But we have to lead a social discussion with the unconditional goal of making it easier for women to have children at an earlier stage in their lives."
Annegret R. had embryos implanted in Ukraine, which were produced from egg and sperm donations in the laboratory. The now 17-fold mother and already seven-time grandmother decided to the artificial insemination, because her youngest daughter Leila (9 years) wanted a sibling. (Ag)