Last Updated on October 16, 2026 by Jeff Tomas
CHIANG MAI – A multidisciplinary medical team at Chiang Mai University has successfully delivered natural identical quadruplets. The mother and all four babies are safe and recovering well after this extremely high-risk pregnancy.
This birth marks the first reported case of natural identical quadruplets in Thailand from a single egg sharing the same placenta. Medical experts say this phenomenon is incredibly rare, occurring in only about one in 700,000 pregnancies worldwide.
Key Takeaways:
- Chiang Mai University doctors safely delivered Thailand’s first natural identical quadruplets.
- The rare pregnancy occurred naturally from a single egg sharing one placenta.
- A massive medical team carefully planned the high-risk premature delivery to ensure safety.
The mother is 33-year-old Thitikarn Siniraksasap, a woman from the mountainous Mae Sariang district. She was initially transferred to Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital when her pregnancy reached 23 weeks.
At first, her local hospital believed she was simply carrying triplets. However, a detailed ultrasound by maternal-fetal medicine specialists revealed a surprise fourth baby.
Overcoming Extreme Pregnancy Risks
The doctors discovered the four babies were in separate amniotic sacs but shared a single placenta. This created severe health risks, including uneven blood flow and premature birth.
To ensure safety, the medical team scheduled detailed ultrasound checkups every one to two weeks. A pregnancy with four babies almost always results in a premature delivery, usually around 29 to 30 weeks.
Dr. Fuenglada Thongprasert, head of maternal-fetal medicine, explained that their main goal was to extend the pregnancy as long as possible. This extra time allows the babies to gain healthy weight before delivery.
Distance also posed a huge challenge for the expecting mother. Her home in Mae Sariang is quite far from the specialized hospital in Chiang Mai, making frequent travel difficult.
A Carefully Planned Medical Miracle
Because traveling was challenging, doctors coordinated closely with her local hospital to monitor her overall health. They carefully watched for serious complications like gestational diabetes and poor fetal growth.
Medical staff even provided specialized nutrition plans and daily medications to prevent high blood pressure. When the mother finally reached 27 weeks, doctors admitted her to the main hospital for close observation.
During her hospital stay, the mother received medication to strengthen the babies’ lungs for a likely early birth. Meanwhile, the massive team of pediatricians, anesthesiologists, and nurses constantly practiced their emergency response plans.
Because all four babies were resting in awkward positions, doctors knew a natural birth was impossible. They had the operating rooms, medical equipment, and blood supplies ready at a moment’s notice.
A Successful Late-Night Delivery
The critical moment arrived when the mother reached 29 weeks and five days into her pregnancy. She began having mild contractions around 2:30 in the morning.
Medical staff quickly assessed her and found her body was already preparing for labor. They immediately gave her medication to slow down the contractions while rapidly preparing for surgery.
The highly trained team successfully performed an emergency cesarean section shortly after. Today, the happy mother and all four babies are resting safely under expert care in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
