I only told God I wanted twins-Father of Abuja Quadruplets

Temitope and the quadruplets

By Kemi Yesufu

Mr. Ernest Amodu and his wife Temitope welcomed an all-girl quadruplets on Thursday 25th of October.

Amodu told Frontline News Online that he prayed for a set of twins to join his three year old son, but he is happy to be the father of the babies delivered through a Cesarean section at the National Hospital.

Quadruplets are much rarer than twins or triplets. As of 2007, there were approximately 3500 sets recorded worldwide.

Quadruplet births are becoming increasingly common due to fertility treatments. There are around 70 sets of all-identical quadruplets worldwide.

Amodu quadruplets

But like the news making all-girl Udehi quintuplets, who were also born at the National Hospital Abuja in 2017, the Amodu quadruplets are a surprise package as they were conceived naturally.

The arrival of the quadruplets born pre-term at seven months has completely changed the lives of Ernest a personnel of  National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) stationed in Ondo State and his wife Temitope, who teaches in a private school in Abuja.

Amodu said: “You know it is not easy providing for one child in Nigeria. You can now imagine how tough it is proving for four newborns.  Our responsibility has quadrupled with the coming of our babies.  I see things becoming even more taxing for us. In fact, the doctors told us that our apartment is not conducive for our newborns.

“We stay in a two- bedroom apartment. It’s not one that I would readily call a two bedroom flat. The doctors advised that the basic we need is an apartment where we have a room for the babies, a room for their stay-in care givers and a room for ourselves. Then I wish we could afford a better car because we are just managing the small one we have. Above all, we are going to get caregivers for the quadruplets and we have to pay them. In any area that good Samaritans can help us, we will be grateful”.

Mr. Amodu can be reached on: 07030356673

Read the full interview of the parents of the quadruplets bellow:

Ernest and Temitope Amodu

Mother

How did you react when you were told that you’re having quadruplets?

I was shocked and scared. I wondered how I would carry four babies at the same time. I remembered what I went through during my first pregnancy and this is the second one. I was thinking how I would carry the pregnancy.. But my husband who’s always said we should have a small family, supported and encouraged me. And with prayers and faith, here we are.

Did you have any signs or premonition that you would carry quadruplets?

At first, I didn’t know I was pregnant with more than one child. I can only say I took ill much earlier with this pregnancy than the first one. Though I was told that every pregnancy is peculiar, I also heard that second pregnancies come with more challenges. With my first pregnancy, I registered for ante-natal when I was four months gone. But for this one I got sick early and this made me visit the hospital on time and this led to me finding out what kind of pregnancy on time.

Do you have a history of multiple births in your family?

Yes, on my side of the family. My mother and my father’s families have two sets of twins. My mum’s mother gave birth to twins twice, though they didn’t survive because, I guess then we didn’t have as many people being taken care of  in health facilities like now.

Now that you’ve given birth are you still scared? How do you plan to raise quadruplets and one son?

Honestly, I can’t do it on my own. The thought of it is overwhelming. But I know that God will provide me help. God is a God of abundance, He is the one who gives children for a purpose and He will raise help for us.

Yours is an all-girl quadruplet. Would you have preferred that they were mixed sex?

I would have preferred them to be mixed sex. But I am okay and happy with them being all girls. At some point scans couldn’t really give us their gender. We checked and checked, but they couldn’t give us an accurate prediction.  We even bought things for boys and girls. But now that they are out, they are girls and I am glad they are. At some point, I told God ‘let your will be done ‘. His will is that they be all girls and I am okay with this. I think it’s better to have four girls at time, than four boys, judging by how energetic my first son is . (laughs)

What are your dreams for your quadruplets?

I predict a good life for them . I pray that they have better lives than mine. I predict a blessed life with  God favouring them and people loving them wherever they go.

Where do you work?

I work in a private school here in Abuja and you know this isn’t a secure job. In fact, I had to take a leave as some point as, like I told you this pregnancy came with its challenges early.

How financially prepared are you to take of your quadruplets?

The truth is that we need help even right now. I have been in and out of hospital. We’ve spent a lot on medical bills, the babies were kept in incubators (the quadruplets were born pre-term at seven months). Feeding them is challenging. One baby eats a tin of baby food a week and they are four. Then you talk of diapers, clothing and we have to bring them to hospital when need be.

 

Father

What are your hopes for your quadruplets?

I pray they excel with their education. I pray that what I couldn’t achieve at this level, I pray they surpass it. Education wise, my journey wasn’t straight. But I believe that my children will do better. I see them going to the best schools and graduating earlier than I did. Like I said, what I haven’t achieved at this stage of my life, I see them achieving and surpassing it. I see a bright future for them.

How would you describe how you and your wife have managed with having quadruplets?

Well, it hasn’t been easy. You know it is not easy providing for one child in Nigeria. You can now imagine how tough it is proving for four newborns.  Our responsibility has been quadrupled with the coming of our babies.  So, I see things becoming even more taxing for us. In fact, the doctors told us that our apartment is not conducive for our newborns.

What kind of apartment is it?

It’s a two bedroom in a sense. It’s not one that I would readily call a two bedroom flat. The doctors advised that the basic we need is an apartment where we have a room for the babies, a room for their stay-in care givers and a room for ourselves. Then I wish we could afford a better car because we are just managing the small one we have. Above all, we are going to get caregivers for the quadruplets, we have to pay them. In any area that good Samaritans can help us, we will be grateful.

We’ve read of men running off when their wives announced that they are having multiple births. What made you react differently?

Well, it’s basically because I am a Christian. As a Christian I believe that there is no challenge a man faces that God can’t help him to survive it. So when she told me what the result of her scan was and we went for the confirmation scan together, with it being confirmed. I told myself that, what we asked God was two (twins), so that we close the chapter of having babies. For me three kids are okay, especially when you think of the current economic situation. But since it pleased God to give us four at once, making us parents of five, He is the one that did it. So, He will provide us help and all we need to raise them. I know that God, who brought these children will make a away to sustain them.

 

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