Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - It's only happened one other time in Buffalo: Quintuplets born to a local family.
Nearly two months ago on Dec. 18, Jessica and John Lottbrein of West Seneca welcomed five babies at Golisano Children's Hospital of Buffalo.
"I was in disbelief when I saw it on the ultrasound machine," Jessica told WBEN. "And my husband was blank-faced. He had to sit down."
The Lottbrein's are suddenly a family of nine. The couple already had two daughters, Hannah and Brooke, ages 5 and 1.
Now they are welcoming Holly, Mason, Stefan, Connor and Layla.
"It's very rare," said Neonatal physician Dr. Valerie Elberson in an interview with WBEN. "Throughout the world, there are only 15 quintuplet births in a year."
There was a lot of preparation for the special delivery. A lot of extra support, in terms of personnel and equipment. A team was assigned to every baby and to mom.
Golisano's Children's Hospital of Buffalo is a Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for high risk pregnancies.
The babies were born at 28 weeks and 3 days. Each weighed approximately 2.5 pounds. Jessica told us they have all doubled their birth weight.
Knowing she would not go to full term, Jessica said she kept setting milestones for herself.
"First 22 weeks, then 24 weeks, and then 28 weeks. We made it to 28 weeks, 3 days," she said.
Now she spends her time going back-and-forth between the hospital and her daughters at home.
There's no determination yet for when the babies will graduate from the NICU.
Jessica added that it's possible two babies will come home before the other three.
"We're taking it day-by-day," she added.
Initially, the Lottbrein's will be a two-car family.
"We have a Yukon and a 4 Runner. The Yukon will fit five car seats and the 4 Runner will be for the older girls," Jessica joked.