PLEASANT GROVE, Utah – After Ashley Gardner’s joyous shock at seeing four babies on an ultrasound was posted online earlier this year, she and her husband’s story of an 8-year struggle with infertility went viral; on Sunday, the Gardner’s welcomed Esme, Evangeline, Indie and Scarlett into the world.
FOX 13 News first brought you the story of Tyson and Ashley Gardner in October, after Ashley’s reaction to an ultrasound showing four babies was posted online along with details of the couple’s journey to become parents.
According to a press release from the family, the four daughters were born around 3 p.m. Sunday. The girls were 12 weeks early but the delivery “went smoothly for both mother and babies.”
Ashley Gardner gave birth to two sets of identical twins on December 28. Image courtesy Gardner family.
The children were delivered via Caesarean section at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo. The decision to deliver early was made after Ashley ruptured some membranes and her contractions continued to become more intense.
The babies are two sets of identical twins. Three of them weigh a little more than 2 pounds while the fourth weighs a little less than 2 pounds. The odds of conceiving two sets of identical twins are about 1 in 70 million, according to the press release.
“My life has been colored pink,” Tyson Gardner told FOX 13 earlier this year after learning he would have four daughters.
Ashley Gardner gave birth to two sets of identical twins on December 28. Image courtesy Gardner family.
The couple had struggled for years to get pregnant, and on their first in-vitro fertilization attempt they conceived quadruplets. They have been chronicling their experiences on their website, Gardner Quad Squad. They also shared their journey on their Facebook page,A Miracle Unfolding-Gardner Quadruplets.
Ashley and Tyson said in the press release they are “overwhelmed with joy” after the safe delivery of their daughters and said they want to thank everyone for their prayers and their support. They also thanked the doctors, nurses and other caregivers at the hospital. Ashley had undergone an emergency surgery earlier in the pregnancy after doctors discovered signs of twin-to-twin syndrome, which relates to an imbalance in blood delivery between twins.
The births come after an 8-year struggle with infertility. When Ashley spoke with FOX 13 at her baby shower, she said she wanted to document their journey because she felt IVF was the only option left.
“I have been through 8 years and IVF was my last chance. It was my last step, and I wanted it documented, no matter what the outcome was.”
She also said she wanted to share her story in part because infertility shouldn’t be a source of shame.
Ashley and Tyson Gardner speak to FOX 13 News about their infertility struggles and conceiving two sets of identical twin girls.
“This is my story,” she said in October. “When I decided to publicly share my story of infertility, I realized it was nothing to be ashamed about.”
She also spoke to CNN via email, where she again talked about her belief that infertility is a source of shame for many but shouldn’t be.
“So about a year and a half ago I decided to open up about our infertility struggles. It was getting hard getting asked ALL THE TIME why I didn’t have children yet. I was sick of making excuses for something that was out of my control and emotionally affecting me so much. I opened up and couldn’t believe the outpouring support I started getting from EVERYONE! Even people I didn’t know. It was an amazing feeling to not be hiding this awful disease of infertility anymore and openly talking about it! I found that so many others were going through the same thing! And I’ve since been able to help so many others struggling and feeling so alone during this heartbreaking journey.”
According to the press release, “The Gardners will be part of a new series in production at TLC about first time parents and their newborns. The network has been working with the Ashley and Tyson to capture their pregnancy & the birth of their daughters, and will be following their new adventure throughout the coming months. The series will premiere in late 2015.”
See the video below for the original shocked reaction that brought the Gardner’s viral fame.
See the video below for the couple's interview with FOX 13 in October.
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