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Quintuplets Family Credits IU, Riley
06/16/2008
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After reading about Riley Hospital for Children's recognition in U.S.News & World Report's 2008 edition of America's Best Children's Hospitals and knowing Indiana University Hospital's reputation as the place to go when preparing for high-risk pregnancies, it may not come as a surprise that the Manley family of Indianapolis partially credits Clarian Health for the health of their seven-month old quintuplets. Last October, Dave and Marianna (Manna) Manley and the Indiana University-Riley Perinatal Center welcomed Annabelle Christine, Thomas David, Hanna Marie, Lili Anne and Matthew Daniel, each born about a minute apart and weighing 9 pounds, 12 ounces together. Today, each one of them weighs more than that, ranging from 11 pounds, 9 ounces, to 13 pounds, 8 ounces - all of them healthy and strong. "When you have quintuplets, you anticipate they will have a more challenging course," says James Lemons, MD, Riley's director of neonatal-perinatal medicine and one of the physicians who cared for the quintuplets during their three-month stay at Riley. "The fact that all five have done this well is remarkable." Family Puts Its Trust in God and Clarian's Clinical StaffFrom the outset, say the Manleys, they put their trust in God and also in Clarian's clinical staff. "We can't say enough good things about our experience," says Manna. "Dr. Lillie-May Padilla, a maternal-fetal medicine doctor at IU, took care of us from the beginning. She quickly gained our trust for her conservative approach to caring for the babies without risking their lives." While being monitored for preeclampsia, Manna was able to each he 28th week of her pregnancy - the goal for quintuple pregnancy. |
The Manley qunituplets at three months. Left to right: Annabelle, Thomas, Lili, Matthew and Hanna. |
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The Manley qunituplets at seven months. Left to right: Hanna, Matthew, Lili, Thomas and Annabelle. |
Nearly two dozen people assisted with the delivery, while five clinical staff members were assigned to each baby. "IU and Riley are so great," Manna says. "There were nearly 50 people who assisted with the delivery and caring for the babies, which is why it went so smoothly."
During the quintuplets' three-month stay at Riley Hospital, the first-time parents learned valuable information. "We gained an appreciation for the importance of having a schedule," says the new mom. Once home, the Manleys quickly adopted a strict schedule for feeding, changing diapers, bathing, napping and nurturing.
While most families rely on immediate family and friends to help when a new baby arrives, the Manleys depend on a network of 100 volunteers, mostly from their church, College Park Church, to help ensure all the children sleep and eat at the same time.
The Manleys say relying on breast milk also helps their babies to thrive, and they are grateful for help from the Indiana Mothers' Milk Bank to help meet the quints' needs.
"I nurse in the mornings and pump six times a day, but still can't produce enough milk," Manna explains. "The Indiana Mothers' Milk Bank has been a huge blessing - supplementing our supply with 100 four ounce bottles weekly."
To learn more about the Indiana Mothers' Milk Bank, which Clarian helped establish, visit www.clarian.org/portal/IMMilkBank. Visit the Manleys' blog at daveandmanna.blogspot.com to learn more about the quints.
