A 44 year old caterer, Mrs Stella Omokhepen Olayioye, has delivered a set of quadruplets in Abeokuta, Ogun State, after a pregnancy in which repeated scans indicated that she was carrying triplets.

The mother of one delivered two boys and two girls through a Caesarean section at Atoke Medical Centre, Abeokuta, on November 7. The discovery of a fourth baby during the operation came as a stunning surprise to her and to the medical team that handled the delivery.

Olayioye had reportedly undergone between eight and 10 ultrasound scans during her pregnancy, and every examination indicated three babies. The family had therefore prepared only for the arrival of triplets and was completely unprepared for an additional newborn.

Speaking after the delivery, she said she was shocked because throughout the pregnancy, the scans never showed four children. She described the unexpected fourth baby as a miracle, but said the joy of welcoming four children at once has been accompanied by anxiety over the enormous financial responsibility of raising them.

The mother also shared a part of her family journey that has made the birth even more emotional. She said she and her husband waited 11 years after beginning their relationship in 2011 before welcoming their first child, who is now four years old. For a couple who waited so long for a child, the arrival of four babies at once is seen as a special blessing. It is a testimony that has drawn celebration and sympathy from many people who have heard the story.

Explaining the circumstances surrounding the unusual delivery, the consultant gynaecologist and surgeon in charge, Dr Taofeeq Ogunfunmilayo, said the woman had commenced antenatal care at the hospital at about 10 weeks of pregnancy.

He disclosed that between eight and 10 ultrasound examinations conducted during the pregnancy consistently showed three babies, prompting the medical team to prepare for the delivery of triplets. The decision to deliver the babies at 34 weeks through Caesarean section was informed by the woman’s medical history, including two previous surgeries.

Dr Ogunfunmilayo gave a vivid account of the moment the fourth baby was discovered in the theatre. He said the team delivered the first baby, the second baby and the third baby, believing the delivery was complete.

As they were about to deliver the placenta, they saw another membrane. Immediately, they ruptured the membrane, and the head of the baby popped out. That was how the team ended up with four babies at a time, to the amazement of everyone in the theatre.

Following the delivery, Olayioye has appealed to the Ogun State Government, corporate organisations and well meaning Nigerians for financial assistance. She appealed specifically to Governor Dapo Abiodun, philanthropists, corporate bodies and Nigerians at home and abroad to assist the family in meeting the needs of the quadruplets. She said the family needs support for feeding, clothing, medical care and other essentials for four newborns, in addition to caring for their first child.

The story has continued to attract attention and goodwill, with many people describing the birth as a miracle and a reminder of the wonders of life. As the family settles into the reality of caring for four babies, they remain hopeful that help will come from government and from kind hearted individuals. For Olayioye and her husband, the prayer is that the four children will grow in good health, and that the support they need to raise them will not be lacking.