Dad on sextuplets’ births: ‘Surreal moment’

As doctors in a Phoenix hospital pulled six healthy babies from his wife’s womb on Monday, Bryan Masche, 29, had an out-of-body experience he describes simply as “pretty amazing.”

“It was a surreal moment,” Masche said during an exclusive live interview Tuesday on TODAY. “I really can’t put into words how I felt at the time. It was really incredible. Everyone moved like a symphony orchestra. I was really amazed. I almost felt like I was outside my body looking in on the entire thing.”

Jenny Masche, 32, remains in the intensive care unit at Banner Good Samaritan Hospital, but is doing well, despite having gone into acute heart failure following the C-section births of three boys and three girls beginning at 8:21 a.m. local time.

The Masches considered the births of the sextuplets — Bailey, Blake, Cole, Grant, Molly and Savannah — a blessing. The couple turned to artificial insemination, after Jenny had two miscarriages. In an interview at the hospital prior to the births, Jenny told TODAY that she’s ready for the challenges ahead. On doctors’ orders, Jenny was on bed rest three months before the births.

“We are just so blessed,” Jenny said. “I think it will be really hard to care for six babies, but I’m sure it will be rewarding already.”

Like her husband, the experience in the delivery is one the new mom will never forget.

“It was very emotional for her,” said Bryan Masche, who was in the delivery room when his children, weighing between two pounds and three pounds each, entered the world about one minute apart. “She cried as each one of the kids came out. We both cried together ... It was pretty amazing.”

Babies doing ‘excellent’
The children were born after 30 weeks, an acceptable length of development for sextuplets, but about two weeks less than doctors would have liked. During her bed rest period at the hospital, doctors had Jenny eating enormous amounts of food to get her weight and strength up.

“The babies are doing excellent,” said Bryan, a representative for a pharmaceutical company. “They are breathing room air right now, so none of them have incubation tubes. Also, all of them have had their first meal and also have had their first diaper changed already.”

He added, “I didn’t do that.”

There will be plenty of diapers, late-night feedings, dance recitals and Little League games in Bryan and Jenny Masches’ future. For now, however, the Lake Havasu City, Ariz., couple is just savoring the wonderment of becoming new parents.

They are also thankful that Jenny made it through the delivery, despite some unexpected complications.

“Jenny, having six babies, had an expanded blood volume that is about double the normal adult blood volume,” Masche’s physician, Dr. John Elliott, explained Tuesday on TODAY. “We didn’t lose enough blood [during the surgery] to help her afterward. The blood that was going to the babies ended up going to her other organs, so we had some difficulty with her heart.”

Doctors worked quickly to stabilize Masche, and she’s now expected to be fine.

“We had an interesting time yesterday getting her out of that, but she responded very well,” Dr. Elliott said. “She is doing wonderfully.”

Because of their size and premature delivery, the children are expected to remain hospitalized about eight weeks.

The Masche sextuplets entered the world about 10 hours after another set of sextuplets were delivered in Minnesota. The Morrison sextuplets, however, were delivered at just 22 weeks and remain in critical condition, according to news reports.

MORE FROM HEALTH

Health Section Front

World's oldest new mom dies, leaves 2 toddlers     Dangerous drug interactions   Concerns over superbugs in our food supply   How safe are energy shots? Slideshow: The 18 best and worst sunscreens ‘Miracle’ girl’s heart heals itself She lost 112 pounds — and gained a bikini-bod Getting the best nutrition for your buck Stub your toe? Say ‘Sh#!’ You’ll feel better Adventures in Cancerland, Part 2: Lust for life Health Section Front   Add Health headlines to your news reader: