Rare 'one-in-15-million' monozygotic quadruplet case reported in Colombia.

María Tapia, aged 38, has reached the 30-week mark of a pregnancy involving four genetically identical boys. The case has drawn significant attention from medical professionals in Caucasia, Antioquia, Colombia, due to its extreme rarity.

Rarity of Monozygotic Quadruplets

Mum-to-be, 38, pregnant with four identical boys in a 'one-in-15 million' miracle. The monozygotic quadruplets share the same placenta in this exceptional Colombian pregnancy.

Obstetrician and gynaecologist Eilen Ospina Barrios stated that the probability of such an event occurring is one in 15 million pregnancies. The fetuses are believed to be monozygotic quadruplets, meaning they developed from a single fertilized egg that subsequently split into four separate embryos.

While Colombia has recorded quadruplet births previously, data from the national statistics agency DANE indicates there were six such births in 2025. None of those cases involved four monozygotic boys. There are also no known previous documented instances of monozygotic quadruplets being born in the country.

Medical Monitoring and Delivery Plans

Tapia and her partner, Jonatan Zapa, have traveled to Medellín so specialists can determine the optimal method and timing for delivery. The pregnancy is classified as high-risk, requiring close monitoring of both the mother and the unborn children.

Zapa described the discovery to local media, noting that the couple counted the embryos on the ultrasound: “One, two, three and four.” He emphasized the exceptional nature of the situation because all four babies are male and share the same sex.

“They are in the same placenta, in different sacs,” Zapa said. The exact reason why a single embryo divides in this specific manner remains unknown, contributing to the extraordinary statistical likelihood of the birth.

Mother’s Health and Family Outlook

Despite the physical demands of carrying four infants, Tapia reportedly maintains good health. She has experienced few cravings, though her expanding abdomen has made walking increasingly difficult. The family hopes medical teams can sustain the pregnancy for as long as safely possible to allow further development before birth.

Tapia expressed eagerness to meet her sons in a video statement: “Yes, I’m already eager to meet them, to have them, to see them.” The couple views the pregnancy as a gift from God. “Trusting in God, always trusting in God that everything will turn out well,” she said.