A Mississippi couple wanted to start a family shortly after their marriage, but fate had other plans. After two miscarriages, they tried fertility treatment, unaware that the results would shock them.
Having married in 2019, Shawn and Haylee Ladner wished to have a large family. They tried to conceive, but two pregnancies ended in miscarriages.
Haylee worked as a teacher at Oak Grove Middle School, interacting with children daily. Children surrounded her at work, but she had no idea that her home would soon be filled with little ones.
After the couple experienced two miscarriages, doctors informed them that Haylee was suffering from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), significantly reducing her chances of conceiving naturally.
The diagnosis shattered Haylee and Shawn’s dream of having a large family, but they did not lose hope. They opted for a fertility treatment called intrauterine insemination (IUI) to assist in conception.
The couple knew this treatment would help, but they had no idea it would yield shocking results. Shortly after the treatment, doctors told them she was pregnant with a high number.
When Haylee learned she had conceived more than one, she and her husband expected twins since they had used two eggs for the treatment. However, the results showed something they did not anticipate. Haylee recalls:
“He said, ‘There are five,’ and I immediately said, ‘How is that possible?'”
The couple had always wanted a large family but never thought their wish would come true instantly. They expected four little ones over the years, but fate gave them five in a single pregnancy.
The couple did their best to prepare for welcoming four girls and one boy. They had chosen names for their babies: Adalyn Elizabeth, Magnolia Mae, Malley Kate, Everleigh Rose, and Jake Easton.
Shawn said he would buy a lot of Barbie dolls and dollhouses for his daughters, adding: “I’m going to have a whole real estate of Barbie dream houses in my house.”
While the couple was thrilled to receive the news, they also faced challenges during the pregnancy. Shawn had to take Haylee to the hospital for regular check-ups, and the treatment was quite costly.
As the hospital was two hours away from the couple’s home, Shawn had to take time off work to accompany Haylee for appointments, and he revealed:
“This commute results in missed workdays and less money on my paycheck.”
Feeling blessed to carry five babies instead of one, the pregnancy brought a lot of hope to Haylee, and she had a message for other couples struggling to conceive.
While women had to face many other challenges in conceiving a baby through fertility treatments, she felt fortunate to have had quintuplets early in the treatment.
She advised other women to keep trying and hope for the best results. “Don’t give up because your miracle is still there, just like mine,” she declared.
