After struggling with fertility treatments, including unsuccessful rounds of Letrozole, Taylah’s doctor recognised the severity of her PCOS, describing it as “off the charts.” They moved to IVF, approaching it cautiously due to concerns about overstimulation. Despite careful medication management, their first egg collection yielded 30 eggs, resulting in 14 viable embryos after Taylah experienced ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

“We were counting our lucky stars. I know how hard and how long people work to just get one or two. So with 30, we were very blessed.”

Their first embryo transfer resulted in a positive pregnancy, but the 8-week scan revealed an unprecedented surprise. The sonographer discovered not one, but four healthy babies, each in their own sac with their own placenta. Through DNA testing after birth, they discovered all four babies were non-identical, likely conceived through natural conception just before the embryo transfer – a revelation that added another layer of amazement to their story.

Taylah’s pregnancy was closely monitored at Royal North Shore Hospital, with fortnightly scans and a dedicated medical team preparing for this rare case – their first set of quadruplets since 1995. At 24 weeks, she was admitted to hospital due to cervical changes, where she remained for two months, showing remarkable resilience and determination to keep her babies growing as long as possible.

“I had a routine of getting out, walking outside each day. When they seen that my cervix stabilized, they gave me gated leave. I could only go maybe 10 minutes outside of the hospital. That just gave me my sanity back.”

The caesarean delivery at 31.5 weeks was a carefully orchestrated event with over 40 medical professionals in the operating theatre. The team had conducted rehearsals and developed specific protocols for the quadruplet birth:

“They had rehearsed it. They had rehearsed how many splitters they need. They had practiced taking the humidity cribs in and out to make sure they knew how to get them in and out efficiently. There actually wasn’t enough room for all the humidity cribs in the theater. They had to have one in the waiting bay.”

Daisy, Archie, Billy, and Charlie were born within two and a half minutes of each other, each weighing around 1500g. Despite being premature, they proved to be remarkably strong, requiring minimal intervention and spending just six days at Royal North Shore before being transferred to their local hospital.

Taylah approached feeding with determination, successfully breastfeeding all four babies for six months through expressing, producing an impressive two liters of milk daily. “I was literally a Jersey cow. I had a custom bra where I’d cut holes… everyone would know that if they’re coming into the house expect to see me in my pajama shorts, my pumping bra and my nipples just going a thousand miles an hour.”

Now at 14 months old, the quads are thriving and mobile, keeping their parents very busy in their new, larger home. Taylah speaks candidly about the emotional challenges of the journey, including postpartum struggles and the importance of mental health support:

“I try my best to be as open as possible about that because it’s something I didn’t really know much about in postpartum, just like the postpartum rage and things like that. And I would describe it to people as like an internal itch.”

She emphasizes the crucial role of their support network and the importance of speaking up when help is needed. Despite the challenges, Taylah’s story is filled with joy and gratitude:

“It’s full on, but it’s the best full on. Like I wouldn’t have it any other way. They have the most beautiful relationship. They cuddle and snuggle and they play with each other. They’ve got best friends for life.”

This episode offers a remarkable glimpse into multiple pregnancy and birth, while highlighting the importance of specialised medical care, mental health support, and family support in navigating such an extraordinary journey. Taylah’s story serves as an inspiration and resource for others facing fertility challenges or multiple pregnancies, demonstrating the power of resilience and unwavering support in achieving a positive outcome against significant odds.