Mother and sextuplets are still strong

Karoline Byler, carrying five boys and one girl, feels just fine at 23 weeks.

By LISA BUIE
Published July 21, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: Keri Wiginton] Zoe Byler, 3, looks up at her mother Karoline Byler in their Wesley Chapel home. Byler is 23 weeks pregnant with sextuplets, five boys and one girl. Although she said she feels fine, her doctor has put her on bed rest until the delivery

ST. PETERSBURG - For someone who has carried six babies for nearly six months, Karoline Byler can't believe how good she feels.

Never mind that she's on a host of medicines. Progesterone shots to keep her hormone levels steady. Folic acid to keep the babies healthy. Prevacid to control her heartburn. And now, blood thinner shots to head off clots and an antibiotic for a pesky urinary tract infection.

She can stand up long enough to shower, go to the bathroom, fix a quick meal. She went to the grocery store with her husband once, but rode a scooter. Her swelling has been kept to a minimum. She spends most of the day in nightgowns and passes time surfing the Internet. Summer reruns and soaps bore her. The television stays on CNN because "at least it's new."

She felt like she did right before she gave birth to daughter Zoe, 3, who had the womb to herself.

All of this impressed the obstetrician, whose practice is preparing to deliver Florida's first sextuplets.

"I can still see your ankles," remarked Dr. Karen Raimer, after she entered the exam room Wednesday at Bayfront Medical Center.

At this point, a doctor's visit still retains an air of routineness. It's the calm before the storm.

The ultrasound focuses on one baby at a time and looks much like sonograms of every other baby.

Fortunately for the Bylers, there were no surprises.

All six hearts beat strong. Babies A, D and F, the lone girl, weighed in at about 1 pound, 6 ounces. Baby C is the leader at 1 pound, 7 ounces, with babies B and E each weighing 1 pound, 5 ounces. All weights were normal for 23 weeks of gestation.

At this point, Karoline has crossed an important threshold as multiples reach viability at this stage, said Maureen A. Doolan Boyle, founder and executive director of the nonprofit support group Mothers of Supertwins.

Two couples had sextuplets a day apart in June. Brianna Morrison gave birth to sextuplets in Minneapolis after just 22 weeks' gestation; four died within two weeks of birth.

Jenny Masche of Lake Havasu, Ariz., gave birth at 30 weeks; all survived. One went home Thursday, with another expected to follow in a day or two, Masche told NBC's Today Show.

The Bylers expected to find out Wednesday when Karoline would be hospitalized for the rest of the pregnancy, but they didn't get an answer.

"We want to keep her at home as long as possible," Raimer said.

Byler said the discomfort is starting to escalate. She feels "bad pressure" on her bladder.

"Your bladder's being squished," Raimer explained.

She can eat a little bit now. Raimer advised her to continue eating small, frequent meals.

She sends Karoline home with prescriptions for the antibiotic and blood thinner shots she will be able to give herself.

"I feel like I should be so much more involved," said Karoline, whose nursery is still a junk room.

"You're about to be," Raimer said.

Sextuplets carry a lot more risk. Primary among them are premature labor, hypertension, bleeding, anemia and gestational diabetes. The babies also are at greater risk for birth defects.

Raimer said Karoline is doing well, so she didn't need to see her until two weeks later.

But Karoline is extra cautious.

"You'd better make it one week," she tells the doctor.

"Okay," Raimer says. "One week."

Lisa Buie can be reached at (813) 909-4604 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 4604. Her e-mail address is buie@sptimes.com.

FAST FACTS:

The story so far

Karoline and Ben Byler of Wesley Chapel are due to become the parents of Florida's first sextuplets. The Bylers, who have one daughter, 3-year-old Zoe, were trying for a second baby. Karoline, 29, has an ovarian condition that makes conception difficult. She underwent fertility treatments. If all goes as planned, they will add five boys and a girl to their family.

On the Web

To visit the Byler's Web site, go to www.bylerbunch.com.

For more information about multiple births, visit www.mostonline.org.

[Last modified July 20, 2007, 22:02:46]