Quadruplets born at UAB Hospital break world record

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Quadruplets at UAB Hospital broke a world record when they were born on May 31, 2024.

The Bryant quadruplets were born 115 days premature, and are the Guinness World Records title holders for the most premature quadruplets, breaking the record set back in 1997.

UAB says 30 maternal-fetal and neonatology experts were called in for an emergency cesarean delivery of the quadruplets, who were only 23 weeks and four days’ gestation.

“When Lainey, Kali, Lennon and Koen were born, they were 115 days premature,” said Becca Bryant, the quadruplets’ mom. “A year later, we were surrounded by family and friends to celebrate their first birthday. It was a moment we were not sure we’d ever see.”

UAB says multiple pregnancies are rare, with twins occurring in one in 80, and quadruplets occurring in one in 700,000. Bryant had a trichorionic quadra-amniotic pregnancy, meaning there were four babies and four sacs, but only three placentas.

The Bryant quadruplets made their entry into the world on a Friday — Lainey at 2:15 a.m., Kali at 2:16 a.m., Lennon at 2:17 a.m., and Koen at 2:20 a.m.

The neonatology team rushed the babies to the Level IV UAB Regional Newborn Intensive Care Unit, where they started UAB Golden Week protocols.

“The highest risk of complications and mortality for extremely preterm babies occurs during their first week of life,” said Colm Travers, M.D., Neonatologist and Director of the UAB Golden Week program. “The program focuses on minimizing complications in babies through that first critical week because it typically means a greater chance of survival and going home.”

UAB says babies born severely premature can face complications including severe brain bleeds, chronic lung disease, bowel injury, infections, and sepsis. Each of the quadruplets required multiple forms of ventilation, medications and numerous central lines. They all experienced their own medical challenges, as well.

“There were so many times we were so close to losing one of them,” Becca said. “But, I kept saying, ‘We came in with four, and we’re taking four home.’ We were going to do whatever it took to get there.”

In November, the babies were all stable enough to be transferred down to the UAB Continuing Care Nursery, a milestone for RNICU babies.

Shortly after, the Bryants received the wonderful news that the babies were ready to go home.

“In the span of a month, all four babies were discharged, right in time for Christmas at home,” Becca said. “It was surreal leaving a place that had become our second home and the staff who had become like family.”

A year later, the quadruplets are happy 1-year-old babies! Koen and Lainey still require a nasal cannula, and Lennon has a G tube to help supplement his feeding, according to UAB.

The family continues making trips to the UAB Newborn Follow-Up Clinic and Children’s of Alabama to ensure the quadruplets develop appropriately. Overall, they continue to hit milestones and defy the odds they were given at birth.

“I think it is a testament to the quality and kind of care that we can provide to these families at UAB,” said Ayodeji Sanusi, M.D., Bryant’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine Physician at UAB. “It shows how well-trained and how closely we work with all specialties to make world records like this possible, even though that is not the intention going into it.”

“Hearing our babies were the most premature quads put into perspective how lucky we were that all of them made it,” Becca said. “We had our family and friends, as well as the UAB team, there the whole way. Fighting for our babies, fighting for our family.”

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