Athaliah Reynolds, Staff Reporter

Ruth-Anne, Isabelle, Gabrielle and Annabelle made history yesterday as the first set of quadruplets to be born at the University Hospital of the West Indies. Happy first-time father, Reginald Hird, said he is looking forward to raising his four girls. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

It was both a tiring and exciting day for Keshia and Reginald Hird yesterday when they welcomed four new additions to their family.

The baby girls, weighing between 1.1 and 1.6 kilos, were delivered at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) between 10:14 a.m. and 10:15 a.m., making this the first quadruplet birth in the hospital's history.

Initial checks by the Registrar General's Department (RGD) suggest that this could also be the first in the country's history. "We have searched the electronic database and so far we have not seen quadruplets," said Dr. Patricia Holness, chief executive officer of the RGD.

"Maybe this has happened before, but it would have to be many years ago," she said.

Doing quite well

Ruth-Anne, Isabelle, Gabrielle and Annabelle, despite being born at 31 weeks, were doing quite well, Dr. Shaun Wynter, consultant gynaecologist, told The Gleaner.

"In general, most quadruplet pregnancies tend not to go much further," said Dr. Wynter, who said the babies were delivered by a classic Caesarean section after an induced labour.

A well-equipped team of physicians, technicians and nurses was mobilised from several departments to conduct the delivery. "It was a team effort," said Dr. Wynter. "The team consisted of about 17 individuals. Under normal circumstances, it would take only about seven," he added.

Mrs. Hird, who is a 31-year-old accountant, was unable to meet with the media when The Gleaner arrived at the hospital yesterday; but a beaming Mr. Hird was happy to fill in for his tired wife.

"When we found out we were having quadruplets, we were both overwhelmed and happy," said the first-time father.

Mr. Hird, a field officer at the Jamaica National Building Society, said he and his wife of six years had only just recently started planning for a child, but never in a million years did they expect that they would have had four in just one go.

"This is it for us though," said Hird. "If later I decide I want a son, I'll adopt," he added.

Mr. Hird said raising his four daughters would be a family affair. "Our entire family, including both grandmothers, will be participating," he said. "We will have to now buy four of everything," he added.

Two of the quadruplets who were born at the University Hospital of the West Indies yesterday.