Mother or 5 Gives Bet to Set of Quadruplet (4 Babies) in Ogun State, Family Begs for Financial Support

A 40-year-old mother of five in Ogun State has given birth to a set of quadruplets at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, as the family appeals for financial support to care for the newborn babies.

The woman, identified as Mufiat Olateju, delivered the four babies on Wednesday at the hospital. Speaking with journalists shortly after the delivery, she appealed to the Ogun State Government and well-meaning Nigerians to assist her family, saying the unexpected development has placed a heavy financial burden on them. 

Olateju explained that the arrival of the quadruplets came as a surprise because earlier medical scans during her pregnancy did not indicate that she was carrying four babies.

“I have given birth to five children before. Initially, when we had a scan, it did not show quadruplets, so we did not prepare for it,” she said.

According to her, the first scan suggested she was expecting only one baby, while a later scan indicated two babies. The discovery that she was carrying four children only became clear during delivery.

The 40-year-old mother said the family is currently overwhelmed by the responsibility of caring for the newborn babies in addition to their five other children.

“Please, I need the help of the government and good people because I do not know where to start,” she said, adding that the family has not yet settled the hospital bills.

Her husband, Oluwaseun Olateju, who hails from Atan in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, also appealed for assistance, saying the family would struggle to cater for the children without support.

“I am the husband of the woman who gave birth to four children here at FMC,” he said.

“I want the government to please come to my aid because I cannot do it alone. It is beyond my power.”

He admitted that the sudden responsibility initially left him shaken, but he expressed hope that help would come.

“At one point, I even thought of running away, but I later changed my mind because I believe everything will be fine,” he added. 

A consultant gynaecologist at the hospital, Dr. Taofeek Ogunfunmilayo, who supervised the delivery, said the babies were delivered prematurely at 32 weeks and are currently receiving specialised care at the hospital’s nursery unit.

He explained that the mother was not registered for antenatal care at the hospital and was referred to the facility while already in labour.

“The patient is what we call an unbooked patient. She did not register with us for antenatal care and was only referred here when she was already in labour,” the doctor said.

Ogunfunmilayo noted that doctors initially believed the woman was carrying triplets, but four babies were successfully delivered during the surgical procedure.

He said the mother is in stable condition and responding well to treatment after the delivery.

RELATED: Witness Testifies How Former Kogi Governor Paid $760,910 for His Children’s School Fees

However, because the babies were born prematurely, they are being closely monitored by medical personnel at the Special Care Baby Unit.

According to the doctor, two of the babies are responding well to treatment, while the other two require more intensive medical attention due to their fragile condition.

The family has therefore called on the government, organisations, and members of the public to support them in caring for the newborns and meeting their medical and living expenses.