Married less than a year, Tim and Bethani Webb were excited to start their family. The couple may, however have gotten more than they bargained for when they found out they are expecting 4 babies! But not just any four babies – four identical babies that were conceived from a single egg that split 3 times.
It is estimated that the chances of naturally conceiving identical quadruplets are 1 in 67 million. The occurrence is so rare that there have only been 70 sets of all-identical quadruplets born worldwide.
The parents-to-be got the exciting news during an ultrasound in December. After performing the scan, the tech asked Bethani if multiples ran in her family. When she replied no, she turned the screen and showed her all 4 babies.
“It was a good thing that my husband was sitting down because he almost fainted,” said Bethani.
After getting married in June of 2015, Tim and Bethani say they weren’t in any rush to start their family.
“My husband definitely wanted to wait a year. I was fine with whenever it ended up happening, but then we found out we were very excited, only thinking we were having one, not four,” the mom-to-be told CBC.ca
The couple, who currently live in a two-bedroom apartment, has been thankful for the fundraising efforts the community of in their hometown of Hythe, Alta, has held for them.
“It’s really amazing because there would be no way we could do this by ourselves,” said Webb.
“Even diapers alone, they say we’re going to go through 48 diapers a day. We’re going to have a little assembly line.”
Bethani is now 27 weeks pregnant and receiving 24 hour care at Edmonton’s Royal Alexandra hospital until the babies arrive.
The babies aren’t expected to arrive until late April or early May, but the couple have already have the names picked out; Abigail, McKayla, Grace and Emily.
“I think my husband has gotten used to the idea that there are four babies, but I don’t think he’s gotten used to the idea that there are four identical girls,” she said with a laugh.
“We’re so excited.”
