Fantastic four end Limerick couple’s heartache

A loving bundle of babies ended a Limerick couple’s heartache to have children.

Grace Slattery, 31, gave birth to healthy quadruplets on Monday, 24 hours earlier than planned.

Husband James was present as three baby girls and a boy entered the world at 3.54am after a near 33-week pregnancy.

The quads ranged in weight from Amelia Helen, at 4lb 3oz, to Mollie Rose, at 2lb 15oz who were born within minutes of each other at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin along with their brother Lucas James (3lb 10oz) and Lily Grace May (3lb 4oz).

James had to get a garda escort from Limerick to Dublin after getting a phone call to say Grace was having a planned C-section.

“I would have missed the birth if it was not for the fantastic gardaí in Henry St, Limerick, and their colleagues throughout the route in Nenagh, Portlaoise, and Dublin, who escorted us to the Rotunda. I cannot thank them enough for their help.”

The past three years were tough for the family after Grace and James were left devastated after four miscarriages.

After discussing this pregnancy they had agreed this was their final attempt and to their massive surprise and shock, they discovered they had naturally conceived quadruplets.

“I was completely shocked by the news and could not speak,” said Grace, adding: “James has been as cool and calm as could be throughout this whole pregnancy, he has been amazing.”

James, who has a 13-year-old son Josh, said the reality of their situation hasn’t yet sunk in: “I don’t know how you prepare yourself for four babies. Luckily enough, our friends and our family have been brilliant and all my neighbours have been in my house, decorating for the last three weeks.”

Childminder Grace will need all her professional skills to cope.

“I’m up and about now. The pain is manageable. They are amazing. I can’t believe they’re all mine.”