Kayla Glines has multiple reasons to be happy as the world’s first triplet to give birth to quads. Against mind-boggling odds, 32-year-old Kayla gave birth to Reese, Jameson, Oaklee and Lincoln.
Her amazing story covers more than a decade of hope, patience, despair and finally unbridled joy as her wish for a family with hubby.
Kayla and social worker Allen, who live in Salt Lake City, Utah, had already adopted her brother’s two daughters, now eight and six, before they started fertility treatment in 2016.
The couple were heartbroken when after years of trying for a child, doctors said they wouldn’t be able to conceive naturally.
Four years later, the couple decided to start fertility treatment, to see if Kayla could finally conceive a baby of their own.
She was able to become pregnant with triplets, but tragedy struck at 27 weeks when the couple’s daughter Allie, one of the unborn children, passed away in the womb.
Kayla said: “It was heartbreaking. We couldn’t believe it. The other two triplets were still alive and doctors decided that it couldn’t wait.
“They had to be delivered that same night. Just that morning I’d been pregnant with three babies, now just hours later we had been told that one had died and the other two were about to be born.
Twin sons Parker and Grayson were born in August 2017.
“And that meant that part of me still felt that there was something missing.
“So Allen and I decided that although we wouldn’t try any more fertility treatment, if I fell pregnant again it would be lovely to have another baby.
“We didn’t hold out much hope as we had tried for so long without anything happening. But then, amazingly, just a few months later, I did a pregnancy test and it was positive. It was wonderful.
But when Kayla was lying on the scanning table and the sonographer ran the scanner over her stomach, she was in for the mother of all surprises.
Kayla gazed in awe as one, two, three, and ultimately four heartbeats showed when she had only expected to see one. Kayla recalled: “It was quadruplets. And naturally occurring ones too – because this time I hadn’t taken any fertility drugs at all.
“I was so shocked. And immediately I was just panicking about what had happened last time.
“It just felt so surreal, like a dream. I even had to take a couple of days off work, just to get my head around being pregnant with four babies.
“We set goals week by week. I reached week 24 and despite the risks I eventually made it to 30 weeks pregnant without losing any of the babies.
“They were delivered then by Caesarean and the operating theatre was packed with people. Oaklee and Lincoln were our two adorable daughters, and Jamesen and Reese were our two handsome boys.
“So now we have six children all under the age of two. And our family life is hectic.”
