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These moms of quadruplets have found a way to stay sane
This trip couldn't have come at a worse – or maybe better – time for Raquel Torres.
The 35-year-old from Tampa, Florida, delivered her quadruplets at 26 weeks and spent four agonizing months watching them in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) as they underwent surgery, breathing and feeding complications.
She was 'drowning in depression' and sought support from an exclusive Facebook group of quadruplet moms, who were planning a trip to Nashville in August 2023.
Five days before the trip, Torres' last quadruplet came home happy and healthy. It was her sign to finally take some time for herself.
'It's hard because as mothers, we just deep dive into motherhood and we forget we have needs as well,' Torres said. 'I had poured so much into my kids. It was time for me to also take care of myself.'
This first trip turned into an annual tradition among the quadruplet moms who found each other on Facebook and instantly bonded over the hardships of having high-order multiples. It has also captivated the interest of social media users, with a video from a June trip to Utah receiving over 750,000 views on TikTok.
Quadruplet pregnancies and births are extremely rare. There were only 128 quadruplet births in 2023 compared to 110,000 twin births, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Artificial reproductive technology and older age can increase the risk of having quadruplets, said Dr. Layan Alrahmani, OB-GYN and maternal-fetal medicine specialist, and advisory board member for BabyCenter, a digital parenting resource.
'With fertility treatment, now we're very careful and it's very rare to implant more than one embryo,' she said. 'Some people are still using ovulation induction, so the quadruplets that I've seen are with judicious use of Clomid (a medication used to induce ovulation).'
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Quadruplet and other higher-order pregnancies are unique in that they increase the risk of certain complications such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and postpartum hemorrhage, Alrahmani said. They also increase the risk of depression, anxiety and stress during pregnancy and in the first years after birth.
Quadruplet babies are also at increased risk of learning disabilities, developmental delays and premature birth, Alrahmani said, with most deliveries occurring between 30 and 32 weeks of pregnancy. Some doctors may recommend that patients get a fetal reduction to decrease the risk of complications.
Due to the high-risk nature of the pregnancy, medical visits are frequent and "so intense" because "we're asking about bad things and it's a lot," Alrahmani said, who does not have quadruplets. It can suck the joy and excitement out of pregnancy.
The quadruplet moms say there's no one around who can relate to their parenting experiences, which is what inspired Hanna Castle, 25, to start organizing the trips.
'These trips are one big mom-sleepover that makes us feel like teenagers, again,' said Castle, a mom of 3-year-old quadruplets from Columbus, Ohio. "It's become a true friendship."
She first learned about the exclusive Facebook group after posting a video of her ultrasound on social media. Another quadruplet mom began following her and then invited her to the Facebook group, which can't be found with a normal search. Before being added as a member, Castle had to provide proof that she was having quadruplets.
The secrecy of the group is "super important," Castle said. "Having such a high-risk pregnancy that's rare, that nobody understands, you can be extra sensitive and want to be private with a lot of things."
Since finding the group, she has leaned on her fellow moms as she navigated pregnancy, the NICU and motherhood.
She spearheaded the first trip to Nashville and has also organized trips to Florida and Utah. The moms hit up bars, go to the beach, take hikes and some have even gotten matching tattoos. Castle tries to rotate the trip's location and times of the year to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to attend.
Torres and Castle look forward to the annual gathering each year.
'It's a time to really disconnect as much as you can and get a feeling like you're back to yourself for a moment while also getting the support and advice you need to go back and be the best mom you can,' Castle said.
Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@
