Calgary mother of quads thrilled, overwhelmed

The Calgary mother of four naturally conceived, identical girls said she is overwhelmed, but has the support she needs to raise her large family.

Karen Jepp, 35, gave birth to Autumn, Brooke, Calissa and Dahlia in Great Falls, Mont., on Aug. 12.

She and her husband, J.P. Jepp, were flown south because the high-risk ward in Calgary'sFoothills hospital was over-capacity and no hospitals in Canada could take the expectant mother.

"We are excited and thrilled, and I think they are doing way better than anyone expected," said Jepp on Tuesday.

"I do have moments when I feel completely overwhelmed [by] the idea of having four babies, but we have lots of support, lots of friends and family."

The couple has already had help with cooking, cleaning and babysitting anda nanny will beaidingthe couple,who also have a two-year-old son, in October.

The four babies were delivered by caesarean section at 31 weeks. Dahlia was the smallest, weighing two pounds six ounces. Autumn was the largest, weighing two pounds 15 ounces.

"All four have had tiny little medical hiccups related to their premature age, but their health is surpassing all our hopes and our doctors' hope," said the new father.

Thebabies are now in the Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary and won't go home until they each weigh five pounds, said the couple.

J.P. Jeppsaidthe Calgary Health Region (CHR)made the right move whenit sent the family to the U.S. to deliver the quadruplets.

"TheCHR had phoned clear across the country looking for beds. There were onlythree [neonatalintensive care] beds availableanywhere in the country and they would have been in different centres across the country. That was a worse case scenario."

The family's two-bedroom townhouse is already on the market and they're looking for something bettersuited for a household of seven.