Couple Welcomes Rare Naturally Conceived Quadruplets: ‘Has Been an Incredible Experience’

Doctors told Arlene and John Mitchell there was a 1 in 700,000 chance of them naturally conceiving quadruplets

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NHS Lothian

A couple from West Lothian in Scotland are celebrating the arrival of naturally conceived quadruplets.

Arlene and John Mitchell from the Scottish village of Longridge welcomed sons Ben, Noah, Harrison and Rory on May 14, according to the BBC and Sky News.

The outlets reported doctors as stating that naturally conceived quadruplets are extremely rare with odds of it happening at just 1 in 700,000.

Arlene and John’s newborn sons are also reported to be the first quadruplets to ever be born in Lothian.

“Welcoming quadruplets into the world has been an incredible and overwhelming experience,” Arlene, 34 — who already shares daughter Lauren, 11, and son Hunter, 3, with John, 38 — said, per the BBC and Sky News. “It’s going to be a very different house and probably a bit noisier but we’re so looking forward to taking our babies home.”

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She continued that she couldn’t believe it when she was told “there were four babies at the first scan,” adding that the nurse could see there was more than one baby and then discovered there were more than three.

“I was absolutely speechless and my husband just couldn’t believe it,” the mother of six said, per the BBC and Sky News. “They are really beautiful and we are so delighted. We can’t wait to take our four boys home to Lauren and Hunter.”

“Life is going to be a bit noisier for all of us but I’m really looking forward to us being one big family,” John added, per the outlets.

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Due to the high risk of premature delivery and pre-eclampsia, Arlene was closely monitored by medical professionals during her pregnancy, reported the BBC.

She underwent a planned cesarean section at 30 weeks and the quadruplets were born in the Simpson’s Centre for Reproductive Health at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Harrison, weighed in at 2lbs. 14 oz, while the others weighed at 2lbs. 15oz, the outlet added.

A team of 20 doctors and midwives delivered the babies and each newborn had four medical staff to take care of them, according to STV News.

The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh did not immediately reply to PEOPLE when approached for comment.

“I’m still in a wee bit of shock because there is four. But it will be good to get them home. I was in survival mode, scared if anything happened to them,” Arlene told STV News. “I was a wee bit shocked. it will be good to get them home. Dr Cowan was absolutely fantastic through the whole thing. It made it so much better.”

While the quadruplets were first given intensive care to stabilize their breathing and grow while being tube fed, they were then moved closer to their family at the special care baby unit at St John’s Hospital, Livingston.

“Delivering quadruplets is an extraordinary experience and I am immensely proud of our entire midwifery and neonatal team for their dedication and expertise throughout this remarkable journey,” Katy Ruggeri, NHS Lothian associate director of midwifery, said per the BBC.

“This was the first set of quadruplets delivered in Lothian and it’s something the entire team will remember for the rest of their careers.”