Australian mother with viral maternity photos gives birth to rare quintuplets

Kimberly Tucci, the Australian mother whose maternity photos are going viral, announced the birth of her quintuplets on her Facebook page Thursday.

“We are very happy to announce the birth of our 5 beautiful babies, born on the 28th of January and just shy of 30 weeks,” Tucci wrote on “Surprised by Five,” where she has blogged about her pregnancy journey.

Tucci and her husband, Vaughn, who share two daughters and live in Warnbro, Australia, had been trying for a third child, a boy, when they learned they had naturally conceived five children: four girls and one boy. Doctors estimate naturally conceiving quintuplets— that is, without IVF or fertility drugs— happens only about one in 55 million times.

Erin Hoskins, of Erin Elizabeth Photography, took Tucci’s maternity photos, which were set on a western Australian beach. In the snapshots, Tucci dons neutral-colored, flowing gowns as she stands in the sand with waves crashing nearby, while touching her pregnant belly.

“Kim has carried her babies all the way into the third trimester and five healthy babies are expected to arrive any day now,” Hoskins wrote in the viral status, which she posted Tuesday Jan. 19 “These photos were taken at 24 weeks and she could not be more beautiful...her strength just shines through in every image. A true goddess, indeed.”

The post had garnered nearly 60,000 likes and about 7,000 shares as of Friday morning.

Tucci wrote in her birth update that she and all five of her newborns were doing well. She also announced their names and birth weight:

Tiffany: 2.6 pounds

Penelope: 2.6 pounds

Beatrix: 2.7 pounds

Allie: 2.6 pounds

Keith: 2.8 pounds

In the Facebook post, Tucci also expressed her appreciation for her medical team as well as her doctor for their love and support during the pregnancy and delivery.

“Thank you for giving me an exceptional birth!” she wrote.