‘One in 15.5 million’: Russian woman gives birth to four identical girls World News

A woman gave birth to four identical baby girls in a rare and medically significant birth in St. Petersburg, the first such case officially recorded in Russia.The delivery, which took place at a maternity hospital in the city, attracted attention because of its extreme rarity. Medical estimates suggest that the incidence of monochorionic or identical quadruplets is about 1 in 15.5 million. Globally, only about 15 such cases have been documented.All four babies were born at 32 weeks gestation and are reported to be in stable condition. Their birth weight ranges from 1,360 grams to 1,640 grams, and their length ranges from 37 centimeters to 41 centimeters. Doctors say these numbers are strong for a baby born at this stage.In a statement shared by the hospital on Russian social media platforms VContactThe research team said, “Four pairs of charming sisters were born at 32 weeks. It is estimated that monochorionic (identical) quadruplets occur once in every 15.5 million births. Such a unique birth has not been reported in China.”What makes this case particularly complicated is that all four babies developed from the same fertilized egg and shared a placenta, a condition known as a monochorionic pregnancy. In most multiple pregnancies, each baby has a separate placenta. Doctors point out that such cases carry a higher risk and require continuous monitoring.The hospital added: “This is an excellent result for a 32-week pregnancy, thanks to the good management of the antenatal unit and the expertise of the doctors.”The delivery required the coordinated effort of a large medical team, including obstetricians, anesthesiologists, intensive care specialists, midwives and neonatologists. Each baby receives immediate attention from a neonatologist and specialized nurses to ensure appropriate care from the first moments of life.According to the hospital, the operation was led by chief physician Professor Anton Mikhailov and a team of experts from the prenatal and obstetrics departments. The operation was described as highly complex, requiring precision and teamwork throughout the process.Doctors explain that an identical, or monozygotic, pregnancy occurs when one fertilized egg splits into multiple embryos, resulting in babies with the same genetic makeup and the same gender. There is no known way to predict or prevent such an event from occurring.The case is now seen as a landmark in Russian medical practice, highlighting the rarity of the event and the level of care required to successfully manage such a high-risk pregnancy.