It all happened in the blink of an eye—Betsy and Dan Santiso went from being a family of three to cheering on six! Just days ago, the couple welcomed not four, but five babies at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. A little girl and her four brother companions joined their 2½?year?old big brother in one swoop.
With odds like hitting the lottery, the arrival demanded more than just cribs and clothes; it meant extensive planning from medical teams, logistics like simulations of delivery, and an all?hands?on?deck approach. Riverside’s Maternity Center, a Level III facility with an on?site board?certified obstetrician and neonatologist, was up to the task.
“Simulations helped us nail the perfect delivery plan,” shared Carrie Aurin, labor & delivery nurse manager. Each baby had their own specialized team—made up of postpartum, delivery, and NICU staff—ready for action within minutes of one another
Betsy was admitted at just 24 weeks gestation, with the original goal of making it to 28 weeks. Against the odds, and with lots of monitoring and planning, she made it to 29 weeks and 1 day when the babies arrived.
IMAGES via Source Courtesy of Betsy and Dan Santiso
She recalls, “I feel surprisingly good for having five kiddos—it felt smooth.” The little girl apparently led the way—“she just decided it was time,” Betsy said, and her brothers “had to follow suit.” Meanwhile, Dan watched his wife with awe. Despite dealing with grief from recent losses, he marveled at her strength and trust.
Now their days are filled with one-on-one time, diaper changes, cuddles and likely lots of meetings with their NICU care team. And though all five babies remain in the NICU, for now, separate, this family can’t wait for the moment when they’re all together in the same room.
The quints—named Juniper (girl), Cedar (boy), Linden (boy), Torrey (boy), and Alder (boy)—reflect the couple’s faith and love for nature. Their big brother Rowan (2½) also shares the tree-themed name tradition.
IMAGES via Source Courtesy of Betsy and Dan Santiso
While specific weights and gestation for the Santiso quintuplets haven’t been released, here’s what medical data shows for quintuplet births:
| Gestational Age | Avg. Birth Weight per Baby |
|---|---|
| Around 30 weeks | ~2 lb 11 oz |
| Full term (rare for quints) | 4 lb 5 oz to 5 lb 10 oz |
Quintuplets are almost always premature, with many born near the 30?week mark, so NICU stays often last 40–60 days or more, depending on birth order and complications.
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