Our Patient's Stories
Woman's Celebrates 35 Years of Caring for Women
 |
Take-5: Life With Quintuplets
|
Quintuple the Fun: John, Becca, Ali, David and Kate
A pregnant Kelly Phillips, her husband Bill and their 18-month-old son, Mark, were joyously planning for the arrival of a new addition to their family when they got the news that they were adding more than one to their family of three.
“We knew there was a chance we could have twins when we opted to use fertility assistance again,” said Bill. “But we never imagined what the doctor was about to tell us.”
On an early ultrasound visit, the Phillips learned that they were about to nearly triple their family. Quintuplets were on their way.
“When we found out we were having not one, not two but five babies, we were in a complete state of shock but once we were through the first trimester and started picking names, we were ecstatic,” said Kelly.
Although contractions began at only 18 weeks, Kelly carefully followed the instructions of Dr. Brian Kirshon, an OB/GYN and Maternal/Fetal Medicine specialist with Houston Perinatal Associates, p.A. (a specialty group at Woman’s), to the letter in order to keep the five babies safe and strong in utero.
Since the average gestation for quintuplets is 27.4 weeks, Kelly knew the importance of carrying the babies for as long as possible. With the health of her five babies as her priority, Kelly began limiting her activities and lowering her stress levels once she made it through her first trimester.
Additionally, she spent her final month of pregnancy at the Antepartum unit at Woman’s, even receiving a surprise party from the nurses once she hit her 32nd week — a benchmark for the babies’ development.
“The experience was exceptional all the way around, and the remarkable care and attention we received from everyone at Woman’s only added to our joy,” said Phillips.
Kelly’s diligence paid off at 33 weeks when she delivered John, Becca, Ali, David and Kate ranging in weight from 3 lbs. 3 oz. to 4 lbs. 12 oz.
“It was a tremendous feat for the Phillips’ quintuplets to get to 33 weeks gestation and have such high birth weights. That is certainly a testament to what a remarkable patient Kelly was and her absolute commitment to her babies’ health and well-being,” said Dr. Kirshon.
The quintuplet’s birth puts the Phillips in a very select group of parents with high order multiples.
“It’s not every day that quints are delivered, but our team has the experience and know how to care for multiples – even high order multiples like these babies,” said Dr. Jayne Finkowski, a Neonatologist with Medical Center Neonatal Associates, p.A. – a specialty group at Woman’s.
The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics notes the number of quintuplets and other higher order births in 2005 totaled only 68 nationwide, and in Texas, only 0.1 percent of live births were triplets or larger. Woman’s delivers more than 9,000 babies each year, including a high number of multiples; quintuplets, however, remain a rarity.
The Phillips family feels fortunate to live only a short car ride away from the medical expertise they needed. Thanks to the team of doctors and nurses at Woman’s, they were able to add five, healthy bundles of joy to their family and have them all home for the holidays.
Welcoming triplets: Christopher, Matthew and Stephen Gee
Dr. Jerry Gee and his wife, Tanya, were ecstatic when they learned they were expecting again but were astonished when they found out their brood was expanding threefold. The Gees were already the proud parents of five-year-old Brook, born at The Woman’s Hospital of Texas in 2000.
“When we discovered we were having not one, but three babies, we were so surprised,” said Dr. Gee. “I don’t think any family ever really thinks they’re going to come out with multiples when they try for a second child.”
Tanya, a former pediatric intensive care nurse, and Dr. Gee, a neonatologist at Woman’s, were no strangers to the struggles facing multiples, which frequently results in premature birth and other complications. With such a positive experience with Brook’s delivery – not to mention a professional familiarity with the hospital – there was no question the Gees would select Woman’s for the birth of their triplets.
“We deliberately chose to deliver at Woman’s for both pregnancies because we know the exceptional level of care available there, plus there are all the ‘extras’ that help set Woman’s apart. The staff offers support in so many ways. In addition to addressing the emotional issues, Woman’s also provides parents with essential resources like breastfeeding support, sibling classes and great antenatal inpatient care,” said Tanya.
Instructed to begin bed rest at 20 weeks by her perinatologist (high risk obstetrician), Dr. Karolina Adam, Tanya, Jerry and her energetic son Brook knew that they had several long weeks ahead. During the pregnancy Tanya was a patient on the Labor and Delivery and Antepartum Units where she experienced first-hand the excellent nursing & respiratory care that Woman’s has to offer expectant moms.
“Throughout the pregnancy, Brook was in a state of awe as he watched my belly grow, and it was so fun seeing him smile when he could feel his little brothers kicking inside my belly,” said Tanya. “But to ensure our triplets would be as healthy as possible, I had to follow the doctor’s instructions and stay off my feet. We explained this to Brook, and he understood – as much as any five-year-old can –but it was tough on all of us. To help with the transition to becoming a big brother, we enrolled Brook in the Woman’s Hospital Siblings class.”
Born April 21, 2006 at Woman’s, the Gee triplets – Christopher, Matthew and Stephen – arrived at 34 weeks gestation. Although both Tanya and her husband’s first-hand knowledge of the NICU was certainly helpful, it was decidedly different to have their own tiny babies in the NICU.
“There’s always a certain level of fear and anxiety when you have babies in the NICU, but the nurses and staff knew exactly what to say and do to make us feel as comfortable as possible,” recalled Tanya. “For example, the lactation consultants were great at encouraging me to pump breastmilk and begin preparations for the time when the boys would be able to nurse.”
Because the babies needed intensive care, they were not able to room-in with Mom. To make up for the lost time with her babies, the nurses worked with Tanya to enable as much visitation and bonding as possible. The NICU staff also made sure to arrange the babies’ isolates in a C-shape so she could bond with each of them equally.
Woman’s support extends well beyond just taking care of mom and babies. While the triplets were in the hospital, Brook was able to participate in Sibling Days, donning a gown to spend quality time with his new baby brothers in the NICU while dad took photos. Also during this time, Jerry & Tanya often had to take turns visiting their sons in the NICU. When Mom couldn’t be there, Dad had opportunities to feed the boys and care for them.
Each year, the Gees have an opportunity to return for Woman’s annual NICU reunion. Often held at the Children’s Museum of Houston, the reunion brings former NICU patients, their families and hospital staff together to reconnect and reminisce. The children enjoy arts-and-crafts while parents catch up with many of the doctors and nurses who helped put their premature newborns on a healthy path.
“It’s a great family event, and we attend to show our appreciation and say ‘thank you’ to the familiar faces who made such a difference in Christopher’s, Matthew’s and Stephen’s lives,” said Tanya. “We look forward to attending many more NICU reunions and catching up with the families and their children who have also had life-changing experiences in the NICU.”
