A 45-year-old woman, Mrs. Mary Yaduyan, has died just hours after giving birth to a set of quintuplets—five baby boys—at a specialist hospital in Akure, Ondo State.
According to reports, the deceased had been childless for more than 14 years before she conceived in 2025 through an in vitro fertilisation (IVF) procedure. Mary reportedly passed away following a complication identified by medical experts as a pulmonary embolism, a few hours after delivering the babies via caesarean section.
Hospital in Mourning
The hospital, known for handling multiple births, was thrown into mourning after the sudden death, which occurred about four hours after what had been described as a successful delivery. The woman had undergone regular antenatal care without major complications throughout the pregnancy.
Speaking with the Ondo State Government publication, Hope Newspaper, the lead consultant, who requested anonymity, expressed sadness over the situation. He said someone he cared for did not make it in the end.
Medical History and Pregnancy
The doctor revealed that the patient had a history of uterine fibroids, which were surgically removed two years prior to the IVF procedure. The pregnancy progressed smoothly until about 31 weeks, when she experienced premature rupture of membranes and was placed under close medical supervision.
The medical team adopted conservative management to prolong the pregnancy to a safer gestational age while monitoring for signs of infection and other complications. The patient later complained of chest pain, prompting the involvement of a consultant cardiologist. However, initial assessments did not indicate immediate danger.
Post-Delivery Complications
Following the delivery, the patient remained stable, with normal vital signs, including blood pressure and oxygen levels. Medical personnel, including a consultant anaesthesiologist, monitored her closely due to the high-risk nature of the delivery. Everything appeared normal after the operation, with no sign of excessive bleeding.
The sudden deterioration was later attributed to pulmonary embolism, a condition caused by a blood clot blocking vessels in the lungs, which can occur without prior warning. Despite swift resuscitation efforts, the patient could not be revived.
Family's Account
Speaking with the publication, the elder sister of the deceased, Mrs. Olusola Ajayi, recounted the final moments before her sister’s demise. She said her sister called her upon arrival at the hospital and requested rice with red oil without stew, but later changed her mind and rejected the food.
Ajayi explained that the family was informed the surgery would take place around 10 a.m., and they were on a video call with the deceased’s husband, who is outside the country, throughout the procedure. After the delivery, they were all jubilating and even called their mother to inform her that everything went well.
She said she was later asked to get medications for the newborns and immediately went to purchase them. But when she returned, she saw many people gathered in the room, and her sister was no longer responding when called. That was how they lost her.
Ajayi confirmed that doctors attended to her sister throughout and that the family made every effort to ensure she received the best care. She concluded, "We did everything we could, but God Almighty knows why it happened this way."
