Couple Welcomes Quintuplets After Years of Struggling With Infertility<\/p>\n
For Graham and Stephanie Freels, one extraordinary delivery transformed their lives\u2014they became parents for the first time\u2026 to five children at once.<\/p>\n
Stephanie, 27, gave birth on June 4 to five healthy babies\u2014four girls and one boy\u2014via emergency cesarean section. Over the weekend, the family finally returned home in Washington state, marking the first time the \u201cFreels Five\u201d were all together under one roof.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s incredible having them home,\u201d Stephanie told Good Morning America. \u201cIt\u2019s so nice not having to shuttle back and forth to the NICU.\u201d<\/p>\n
The quintuplets were a complete surprise after nearly five years of infertility. Following ovulation induction and several rounds of intrauterine insemination (IUI), Stephanie discovered she was pregnant in late December. By early January, the couple learned they weren\u2019t expecting one baby\u2014but five.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had plans to move into our own apartment, but that had to be canceled,\u201d Graham said. \u201cI called the landlord and explained, \u2018I think we\u2019re about to have a lot of kids. That apartment won\u2019t work anymore.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
In March, the couple temporarily relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, to be under the care of Dr. John Elliott, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist with experience in high-order multiple pregnancies. While Graham worked remotely, Stephanie focused on navigating her quintuplet pregnancy, despite severe morning sickness.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe hardest part was trying to meet my calorie goals,\u201d Stephanie said. \u201cI didn\u2019t consistently eat solid foods until about 23 weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n
The medical team aimed for 34 weeks, but Stephanie went into labor at 27 weeks due to abnormal pain and swelling. At the hospital, she was already six centimeters dilated.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had about an hour to prepare for delivery,\u201d said Andrea Hassler, nursing director at Dignity Health St. Joseph\u2019s Hospital. \u201cOver 20 staff were in the delivery room, with each baby having a dedicated team, plus Stephanie\u2019s obstetrical team.\u201d<\/p>\n
The quintuplets\u2014Adelyn, Eliana, Linnea, Fisher, and Harper\u2014weighed around 2 pounds each at birth. Although they spent several weeks in the NICU, Hassler described their progress as \u201crelatively uncomplicated.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey needed some respiratory support initially, but they quickly grew into the healthy babies you see today,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Fisher, the only boy, was the last to leave the NICU on August 19. Back home, Graham estimates the family goes through more than 250 diapers every two weeks.<\/p>\n
As fraternal quintuplets, each child is easy to tell apart. Back in Washington, the family is living with Stephanie\u2019s parents, benefiting from extra support and helping hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are beyond grateful for our family, friends, and even strangers who\u2019ve helped with meals, money, and kind words,\u201d Stephanie said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the nurses and doctors have been incredible,\u201d Graham added. \u201cThe care they put into our babies\u2014and every baby they work with\u2014is just amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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