Early on in their first pregnancy, Guillermina and her husband Fernando learned they were having not one, not two, not three… but five babies at once. This is exceptional all in itself, as less than 10 sets of quintuplets are born each year in the United States.
Here's what makes this story even more incredible: not even doctors could believe the level of grace and calmness displayed by Mom and Dad, considering the bombshell pregnancy. Each additional baby a pregnant mother carries increases the possibility of pregnancy complications, like gestational diabetes, placental abruption, and even death. Now, multiply that times five.
But Guillermina's doctor, Dr. Tracy Manuck, called the new mom extraordinary. Despite the fact she suffered from high blood pressure and severe pre-eclampsia, not once did Guillermina complain. She developed blue and purple bruising on her baby bump as a result of carrying so many babies. Doctors were also impressed with Fernando, who provided his wife with unwavering support throughout her entire pregnancy.
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At 32 years old, Guillermina carried the quintuplets until 31 1/2 weeks. That's seven weeks shorter than most single-birth pregnancies and three weeks longer than most quintuplet mothers. Because the quints spent extra time in the womb, their lungs were able to develop more than most other quintuplets.
Over Memorial Day weekend in 2013, Guillermina went into labor at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City. Though they'd never seen a case of quints before, a dedicated team of eight doctors, one anesthesiologist, and dozens of nurses worked incredibly hard to ensure Mom and all five of the tiny babies survived. Three girls and two boys — Esmeralda, Fatima, Marissa, Fernando, and Jordan — were delivered without a hitch.
Watch the video to see the miraculous moment all five babies are delivered.
