Super mum aged 29: I had eight babies in seven years

For this young mum, having a family has been a journey filled with joy and also sorrow.

Samantha Broadbent always knew she wanted to be Mum to a large brood. But the 29-year-old never imagined she’d naturally conceive eight babies in just seven years, including two pairs of twins and a set of triplets. Tragically, Samantha lost two of the babies, on one occasion almost losing her own life as well.

But these days, Sam and her husband Ty, 39, count their blessings. And the fact that their outer Melbourne home is filled with children’s laughter gives them immense joy. “I grew up in a big, loud family,” smiles Sam, “but this has been quite a surprise.” Sam and Ty were thrilled when she first became pregnant, with twins, eight years ago. But the couple’s elation turned to anguish when Sam went into labour at just 24 weeks. Hours later the couple’s first son, Matthew, was born weighing just 584g.

Devastatingly, tiny Matthew lost his battle for life the very next day. Doctors managed to slow Sam’s labour, and Matthew’s twin brother David was born three days later, weighing 659g. “David was in intensive care for about five months. He had heart surgery when he weighed just 700 grams, but thankfully he’s fine now.” Less than a year later, Sam fell pregnant with her third child, Michael, now 6. Two years on, she and Ty welcomed their second set of twins – Abbey and Riley.

But the couple’s family wasn’t complete yet. Last year, Sam and Ty were told they were having a third set of twins. Everything changed, however, at nine weeks into the pregnancy when Sam suddenly fell violently ill. An ultrasound scan revealed Sam was in fact pregnant with triplets, but one baby was non-viable as it was growing outside the uterus.