Quads born to surprised Nongoma mom

FOUR tiny babies lie in the incubator at Benedictine Hospital unaware of their entrance into the world.

Nongoma mother, Nobuhle Qwabe (27) did not know that she was carrying three girls and a boy. Speaking from the hospital ward, after giving birth on Sunday night, Qwabe admitted she had not been attending antenatal classes during the run-up to her delivery.

‘I honestly didn’t know I was carrying four babies. I was surprised when the nurses told me I was carrying more than one child. I was really not expecting it,’ she said.

‘But when the doctors arrived, and the babies kept coming, I didn’t know what to say. I was shocked, but I’m excited now.’

Cuba-trained Dr Sibusiso Sithole, who is based at Nkonjeni Hospital some 50km away, said he was called to Benedictine Hospital by the nurses around 7pm on Sunday night, after they realised Ms Qwabe was carrying more than one baby.

According to Dr Sithole, the babies weighed between 1kg and 1,3kg and were healthy. 

‘I’ve delivered many sets of twins before, but I’ve never done triplets – let alone quadruplets. This has been a real miracle,’ said Dr Sithole.

The babies are being kept in hospital and will be transferred to a higher level healthcare institution for further care.
Qwabe is unemployed and lives with her grandmother and two sisters. She also has a nine year-old daughter.

‘I don’t know how I’m going to care for the babies, because I only have two hands. I will also need help with baby formula and clothing,’ she said.

KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, said, ‘I would like to congratulate and thank these young doctors who support us in such rural and remote hospitals. A surprise of quadruplets in a district hospital and so well-managed is a miracle. We wish both the mother and babies good life.’