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The Woollen quadruplets. |
They plan on three more days like it in the coming weeks. Brett Woollen, the first of their four children born Feb. 11, is out of the hospital.
“We continue to see improvements with the babies every day. It has been a long bumpy road for them, but they are all doing better than any one expected,” said Rachel Woollen, the babies’ mother. “We are blessed to have four healthy babies.”
Lee Woollen, the babies’ father, said kind words and prayers from around the state have been a tremendous help.
“We are grateful for the love and support we have received from all of our family and friends since the babies were born,” he said. “The babies are doing great due to the wonderful doctors and nurses at The Nebraska Medical Center and all of the prayers that have been said for us.”
“They’re all doing far better than anyone anticipated,” said Ann Anderson-Berry, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at UNMC and neonatologist at The Nebraska Medical Center. “We’re thrilled that Brett is doing well enough to leave the hospital, and that his sister and brothers are nearly ready to be discharged.”
The other babies — Kaden, Parker and Cooper — still need to master their feeding skills, Dr. Anderson-Berry said.
“When they do, we expect they’ll be able to leave the hospital also,” she said.
The Woollen Quadruplets were born at 23 weeks; 17 weeks premature. Each baby weighed 1 1/2 pounds or less at birth. After nearly four months in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at The Nebraska Medical Center, they have all reached a much healthier and stronger weight.
Brett, who was released June 3, now weighs 7 pounds, 4 ounces. Kaden weighs 7 pounds, 3 ounces. Parker is close behind her brothers at 7 pounds, 1 ounce. And Cooper Woollen now weighs 5 pounds, 14 ounces.
The Woollens plan to stay in Omaha until the other babies are out of the hospital.