I have five kids under four – the last baby felt like it was going to fall out after my quintuplets drama
A MUM with five little ones under four recalled her experience with her final pregnancy.
The woman had originally feared she was infertile so took medication to stimulate ovulation.
In 2020, Hannah Merton, now 25, and her husband Jacob, now 26, welcomed five babies at once.
The quintuplets arrived early at 25 weeks, weighing between one pound 13 ounces and one pound four ounces each.
Unfortunately, the smallest baby, Meredith, passed away after just three days due to a brain bleed.
Her siblings Philomena, Evangeline, Gideon, and Elliot eventually grew strong enough to leave the NICU, only reuniting altogether a year after their birth.
Hannah explained that her tiny miracles came after “two years of infertility.”
Earlier this year, the young mum got candid about her second pregnancy.
She described what it was like carrying and expecting a “singleton” after her quintuplets.
Hannah revealed that her first pregnancy resulted in a lot of complications, including high order multiples, pelvic floor issues, and diastasis recti.
She explained that she had never carried a baby to full-term before, having had her first five babies prematurely.
This led to her Googling to see if she was carrying her child too low during her third trimester.
“This is the longest I’ve ever been pregnant and this baby feels like it is going to fall out,” she told her followers.
Hannah described the feeling as “mind-blowing” and pointed out that she doesn’t even look pregnant from certain angles.
“I don’t really feel like I’m that big like if you saw me walking down the street, would you actually think I look pregnant?” she asked her audience.
The family welcomed a baby girl in April with Hannah joking that she has since missed being pregnant.
Her followers shared their own experiences with pregnancy in the comments section.
What causes premature births?
Preterm birth, defined as childbirth occurring before 37 weeks of gestation, poses significant health risks for the baby. The earlier a baby is born, the greater the risks, with those born before 28 weeks facing the most severe complications. These babies often require intensive medical care and may suffer from long-term health issues such as developmental delays, respiratory problems, and vision or hearing impairments.
Medical advancements have improved the survival rates of preterm infants, even those born extremely early. However, the likelihood of survival and the extent of health complications are closely linked to the gestational age at birth. Babies born between 28 and 32 weeks have a better prognosis than those born before 28 weeks, but they still face challenges and may need ongoing medical support.
Parents of preterm babies should be prepared for a potentially lengthy hospital stay and a range of possible health concerns. Early intervention and specialized care can improve outcomes, but it is crucial to monitor the child’s development closely. Understanding the risks and being informed about the necessary medical care can help parents support their preterm infant’s health and development effectively.
“Sometimes I felt like a foot was going to fall out. [My son] was sooooo low,” wrote one mum.
“My friend had the same, she felt [her] baby was about to fall out all the time since pretty early in [the] pregnancy,” said another viewer.
“I didn’t get big with my girl until middle of the third trimester then I got HUGE,” shared a third commenter.
“My baby was basically on the floor most of my pregnancy,” joked another person.
“My second I carried SO LOW. I used to joke that he could reach out and wave. I had so much lower pressure it was crazy,” wrote one TikTok user.