Naturally conceived quadruplets born at UC Davis Children's Hospital

When Kayleen Delgado and her husband, Ezekiel “Zeke” Delgado, learned she would have difficulty conceiving naturally due to a low egg count, the Tuolumne County couple was disheartened. The Delgados already had two beautiful daughters — 8-year-old Hadassah and 5-year-old Eden — but longed to add to their family.

“The doctor said that there was basically zero percent chance of us having children naturally,” Zeke said.

Despite the odds, Kayleen became pregnant about a month later. It was November of 2023. But when she miscarried soon after, it was yet another blow to the young family.

Strong in faith, the couple did not let their grief deter them. Nor did they let a little thing like statistics — “zero percent chance” — stand in their way. They were not interested in IVF but refused to give up. After all, there had been two healthy pregnancies. Could it happen again?

A memorable appointment

In April 2024, the Delgados got the life-changing news: Kayleen was pregnant. The couple was thrilled. They would finally become a family of five, or so they thought.

At a routine ultrasound, they received “more” news … literally. The Delgados were not only having one baby, but three. It seemed their prayers had been answered.

“We were super excited and also a little bit more concerned with three babies,” Kayleen said. “But we believed God would help us see this through.”

Specialized care for mom and babies

Carrying triplets is considered a high-risk pregnancy, which requires a higher level of prenatal care. Kayleen and Zeke were referred to UC Davis Health for its specialty in maternal fetal medicine. A multidisciplinary team at the Sacramento hospital provides expert high-risk obstetrical care for maternal and fetal conditions, like multiples.

At their initial appointment, the ultrasound revealed another surprise.

I fell to my knees. I was at a loss for words. My immediate thought was, ‘How do I prepare and provide for that many babies?’”—Zeke Delgado, quadruplets' dad

“I’m a doula and a midwife assistant so I know what to look for,” Kayleen remarked about that day last July when she and Zeke viewed the ultrasound images on the screen. Little by little, they noticed something that didn’t appear in previous ultrasounds: “We started counting,” Kayleen recalled, “and let’s just say I was glad I was already lying down.”  

Upon seeing the fuzzy black and white images, Zeke had to steady himself, almost passing out upon learning there were not three babies, but four.

“I fell to my knees,” Zeke recalled. “I was at a loss for words. My immediate thought was, ‘How do I prepare and provide for that many babies?’”

One in a million

Experts say there’s a 1-in-700,000 chance of quadruplets being conceived naturally. But the Delgado quadruplets were even more rare. There were three identical babies sharing one amniotic sack and a single baby in another. Each sack had its own placenta. That made this pregnancy one in a million.

It also came with significant risks, but Kayleen and Zeke were steadfast in the belief that they were meant to have all four babies. The couple put their faith in God and their trust in UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

“Dr. McClennan and the team — including fetal sonographer, Nia Oliver — were awesome,” Kayleen said. “We knew they were going to do everything they could to help us. They made us feel cared for.”

It’s time

Kayleen visited her doctor at UC Davis Children’s Hospital every three weeks. Everything seemed to be going smoothly for her and the babies.

“At each ultrasound, they were doing great. They were growing. They had strong heartbeats,” Kayleen said. “And then in August, we found out the sex. We were having three identical girls and one boy. We were so stoked.”

Zeke said it was an exciting but nerve-wracking time.

“We prayed that every single time we’d come to UC Davis we’d get good results,” Zeke said. “And that’s just what happened.” 

Within minutes, probably 10 people came into the room and it was all hands on deck.” —Kayleen Delgado, quadruplets' mom

But then the couple received worrisome news at their 29-week appointment: Doctors noticed the umbilical cord of one of the developing baby girls wasn't functioning well. The flow of nutrients was stopping intermittently. 

Kayleen was admitted to the hospital to be monitored and their lives were about to take a sudden turn. The next day a doctor told the couple it was time to deliver.

“Within minutes, probably 10 people came into the room and it was all hands on deck,” Kayleen recalled. “It was like, ‘Hey, it’s time. These babies need to come out.’”

Team Delgado

The initial 10 or so providers in the room were just a fraction of the entire team assigned to bring the Delgado quadruplets into the world.

“From neonatologists and neonatal nurse practitioners, to nurses and respiratory therapists, there was a huge team just to stabilize these four babies at birth,” said Christa Mu, a clinical nurse specialist in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) who helped coordinate the quadruplets’ care. “And this is not even the care team for the mom, just the babies!”

Kayleen had her own care team and that alone was a new experience for the couple, since their older daughters were natural home births.

“I haven't had a hospital birth. The C-section was the opposite of anything I've ever experienced. I've never had surgeries or been put under anesthesia,” Kayleen said. “It was scary, but there was one nurse who was with me through everything. She didn't leave my side. It made such a huge difference. It made me feel like, ‘OK, I can do this.’”

And she did.

On Nov. 14 the Delgados celebrated the arrival of identical girls Fern, Jane and Kit, and fraternal brother, Royal. Each baby weighed under 2.5 pounds. Kit was the smallest, tipping the scale at barely 1 pound, 15 ounces.

The babies were rushed down the elevator to the NICU where another team of experts were standing by to receive them. The UC Davis NICU is unique to the Sacramento region because it’s designated a Level IV nursery, the highest possible rating, and provides expert clinical care for infants who are born prematurely, are extremely ill or require surgery.

Zeke stayed with the babies while Kayleen recovered from surgery. She visited when she could, every few hours.

“Those first few weeks were tough,” Kayleen said. “It was an emotional time.”

Yet, the couple was also comforted by the actions of the caring staff.

“We knew our babies were 100% taken care of,” Kayleen said. “The team was so good at communicating with us. We just knew we could trust them.”

The long road home

The quadruplets spent two weeks in the UC Davis NICU. Overall, the babies did remarkably well with no major complications, Kayleen said. After 14 days, the quadruplets were transferred to a hospital closer to the family’s home where they continued to grow bigger and stronger.

After 66 days in the combined NICUs, the Delgado quadruplets were all finally headed home.

The Delgado 8

Royal was first to leave the hospital, on Jan. 5. Fern, Jane and Kit followed on Jan. 19. Now almost six months old, the babies weigh more than 10 pounds each.

Telling the three girls apart is made easier by colored toenails and bracelets. As for their personalities? Fern and Royal are “very chill,” said Kayleen. “Jane is like her sister, Kit … spicy, but a little less so.”

The family of eight is adjusting to their new normal, which revolves around feedings every three hours and homeschooling their elder daughters. Although the Delgados are steeped in diapers — averaging 180 per week — they have found support in their family and community and are thankful to God and UC Davis Health that everything worked out the way it did.

“We couldn't have asked for a better outcome,” Kayleen said. “UC Davis took great care of us. We are blessed and grateful.”