Pregnancy and childbirth are already challenging for women, but it can be even more challenging for those with underlying medical conditions. Such is the story of Kendall MacDonald, a 27-year-old mother from New Zealand, who has battled polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and toxic shock syndrome. Despite the odds against her, Kendall got pregnant with quadruplets, a phenomenon that surprised her and her husband, Josh. This article will dive deeper into Kendall’s journey and how she overcame the challenges to become a mother of four.
Table of Contents
- The Journey Begins
- A Tough Battle with PCOS and Endometriosis
- The First Pregnancy and Misfortune
- The Road to Conception – Seeking Medical Help
- A Surprise of a Lifetime – Quadruplets
- Tough Decisions to Make
- Kendall’s Pregnancy Journey with Quadruplets
- A Life-changing Moment – The Birth of Four Babies
- A New Life with Four Beautiful Babies
- FAQs on Quadruplet Pregnancy
The Journey Begins
Kendall MacDonald and her husband, Josh, always dreamed of having more children, even after the birth of their daughter Brooklyn, who is now three years old. Kendall’s battle with PCOS and endometriosis made it challenging for her to conceive naturally. “I don’t ovulate regularly due to PCOS and endometriosis, which makes it difficult for me to conceive,” she said.
Despite the challenges, they started trying for another child when Brooklyn was just two months old. However, their journey was not smooth, and they experienced a miscarriage along the way.
A Tough Battle with PCOS and Endometriosis
PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age. It causes hormonal imbalances that make it challenging to ovulate regularly. Endometriosis, on the other hand, is a painful disorder in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus.
Kendall’s battle with these conditions made it challenging for her to conceive naturally. The couple knew they needed medical help to achieve their dream of having more children.
The First Pregnancy and Misfortune
After trying for some time, Kendall got pregnant for the first time. However, the happiness did not last long as she experienced a miscarriage. It was a devastating moment for the couple, and they knew they had to keep trying.
The Road to Conception – Seeking Medical Help
Kendall and Josh consulted with their doctor and were recommended to try ovulation-aid medication called Clomifene. The medication is used to stimulate ovulation and increase the chances of conception. Kendall got pregnant after the second attempt, a pleasant surprise for the couple.
“It doesn’t usually happen that fast for people, but it’s obvious that that elevated dose produced a lot of eggs,” Kendall said.
A Surprise of a Lifetime – Quadruplets
Kendall and Josh were ecstatic when early ultrasound results showed a healthy heartbeat. However, their joy was short-lived when they found out that there were not two but four heartbeats during the third ultrasound.
“We had one baby, then two, then three, then four. It was a huge shock,” Kendall said.
The couple did not expect to have quadruplets, and it was a big surprise for them. However, as the reality set in, Kendall had to make a difficult decision.
Tough Decisions to Make
At 12 weeks, Kendall was advised to abort two fetuses to increase the chances of survival for the other pair. It was a tough decision for the expectant mother, and she had to consider all the possibilities before making a choice