Edward Hospital began caring for its 2,000th set of multiples on Saturday, Sept. 15 when Sarah Esche-Lange, 36, gave birth to twins.

Madison Josephine Lange (5 lbs., 5 oz.; 18 inches) was born at 2:19 a.m. and Dylan Jeremiah Lange (5 lbs., 2 oz.; 18-¼ inches) was born at 2:20 a.m. Erik Lange, 34, is the father. The family lives in Aurora.

Since 1996, Edward Hospital has delivered 1,931 sets of twins, 64 sets of triplets, four sets of quadruplets and one set of quintuplets.

Edward’s 2,000^th set of multiples is calculated since 1996, when the partnership began between Edward Hospital and DuPage Neonatology Associates, and when the hospital’s Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was designated Level III, meaning it can treat the sickest and most fragile newborns.

Edward was also the first hospital in the region to offer private NICU rooms equipped with the latest technology. This means a team of specially-trained neonatologists and nurses closely monitors newborns while the family stays together. NICU families also have access to the Ronald McDonald Family Room — the first of its kind in Illinois, and a place for parents to rest and regroup.

Edward’s multiples include:

• The first set of quintuplets born in DuPage County, the Hortons in 2004. The four surviving newborns — Caitlynn, Coira, Lachlan and Porter — gained national attention following their birth by mother Taunacy and news that father Josh was severely wounded while serving with the Marines in Iraq.
• The first set of quadruplets born in DuPage County, the Crommets in 2001 — Josie, Allison, Maggie and Sophia.
• The Medrano quadruplets, born in 2006 — Alexander, Alessandro, Michael, and Ysabell — who were conceived naturally, without fertility drugs or treatment. The odds of having natural or spontaneous quadruplets are estimated to be 1 in 512,000.

Edward Hospital is able to handle multiples and high-risk deliveries because of the neonatology and perinatology (maternal fetal medicine) services it provides.

This is exactly why the Smilgiene family, from Orland Park, chose Edward for the delivery and care of their triplets. In August 2015, triplets — Lukas, Simas, and Viktorija Smilgiene — were born 15 weeks premature. Together, the three babies didn’t add up to five pounds at birth. They spent time in the NICU until all three were finally able to go home.

In addition to Edward’s Level III NICU, Elmhurst Hospital offers extended capabilities in its Level IIe Special Care Nursery.

Learn more about the NICU and Special Care Nursery at Edward-Elmhurst Health.