Nebraska couple stunned doctors with quadruplet pregnancy

For the first time in 10 years, Nebraska Medical Center announced that quadruplets were born.

Three boys and one girl were delivered via cesarean section on Friday, February 23, to Shalee and Andy McCarter of Overton, Nebraska. The babies mark the first quads born in Omaha this year and the first delivered at the Nebraska Medical Center in a decade.

On January 3, 2018, only 26 weeks pregnant, Shalee started to dilate and have contractions. She was flown to Nebraska Medical Center for around-the-clock care. Doctors wanted her to reach that 34-week goal.

According to an Inspired NTD report, after spending nearly a month in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU), all four babies are now at home with their parents and 10-year-old sister, Elle.

At six-week gestation, Shalee and Andy, who used fertility treatments, learned they were pregnant. At first, doctors in Kearney thought it was triplets. It wasn’t until Shalee’s 18-week checkup that the ultrasound revealed she was actually carrying quadruplets.

To ensure the smooth delivery and transition and health of these little ones, a medical team consisting of 18 staff members was necessary. It was made up of doctors and nurses, respiratory therapists, phlebotomists, clerks, residents, and others.

The neonatal intensive care unit was prepped to receive the precious cargo. Little did Shalee or the medical staff attending at the birth could predict the new mother would make history at the medical center.

Jack Andrew was born at noon, weighing 4 pounds, 9 ounces. Emmett Axel, born at 12:01 p.m., weighing 4 pounds, 4.8 ounces. Blakelee Kay, born at 12:02 p.m., weighing 4 pounds, 7.6 ounces. And finally, Beau Ryan was also born at 12:02 p.m., weighing 4 pounds, 14.3 ounces.

The day before her scheduled C-section, members of the Labor and Delivery Unit threw Shalee a baby shower. Luckily, a month later, all four babies passed specific developmental skills doctors put in place to make sure they're ready for the world.

“We wouldn’t have gotten this far without them,” Shalee said. “They’re an amazing, caring team of people and we got to know them all so well. There wasn’t a day or hour that went by that some nurse or doctor didn’t stop in my room to see if we needed anything.”

The family is so excited to have everyone at home. Elle, the big sister, is especially thrilled to have a little sister. She already says Blakelee is her best friend so it’s really lovely.