Woman who captured the nation with news she was pregnant with quadruplets after eight years trying is rushed to hospital for emergency surgery after five months

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Ashley Gardner, of Utah, is due to undergo surgery today
One set of twins have twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a condition which affects identical twins, causing an unequal flow of blood
Mrs Gardner has endometriosis, which affects her ability to get pregnant
Couple delighted to learn their first attempt at IVF had worked in July

Published: 10:29 EST, 22 October 2014 | Updated: 15:35 EST, 22 October 2014

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A Utah woman who captured the nation with her news that she was pregnant with quadruplets after spending eight years trying to conceive has been rushed to hospital for emergency surgery.

Ashley and Tyson Gardner, from Utah, flew to see a specialist surgeon in California yesterday following a meeting with their doctor about their two sets of identical twins, according to a Facebook page which updates their followers.

They were forced to make the emergency trip after finding out that one set of twins have twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a condition which affects identical twins, causing an unequal flow of blood between the twins.

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Ashley Gardner, a Utah woman (pictured here recently) who captured the nation with her news that she was pregnant with quadruplets after spending eight years trying to conceive has been rushed to hospital for emergency surgery

Ashley pictured in a photo last week at 19 weeks. According to a Facebook page which updates their followers Ashley and Tyson Gardner, from Utah, flew to see a specialist surgeon in California yesterday following a meeting with their doctor about their two sets of identical twins

The couple also found out that Ashley's cervix is opening prematurely as a result of the condition.

This morning a post on their Facebook page stated Ashley is to undergo surgery today which with last several hours and that she has been 'given meds to halt any contraction that might occur.'

Yesterday a status on the page read: 'We need your prayers and love. Tyson and Ashley went to the doctor yesterday and found that one set of twins has TTTS (twin to twin transfusion syndrom) Her cervix is also opening.

'They flew out to California today to see a surgeon who specializes in this as there is not one in Utah. If all goes as planned at their appt today Ashley will most likely be having surgery tomorrow.'

Stunned: This is the moment Ashley and Tyson Gardner, for Utah, found out they were having quadruplets in the summer after spending eight years trying to conceive. Above, Mrs Gardner stares at the screen in the ultrasound

70-million-to-one odds: The couple were delighted to learn their first round of IVF was successful in July following a long battle with infertility. But they were later stunned to discover they were having four babies

Caught on camera: Their incredible reaction to the news was captured in hospital by friend Alicia Hallock

WHAT IS TWIN TO TWIN TRANSFUSION SYNDROME?

Twin to twin transfusion is caused by an abnormal connecting of blood vessels in the twins’ shared placenta which results in an imbalance of blood flow from one twin to the other.

It affects approximately 15% of identical twins who share the same placenta.

One twin is often larger than the other twin and receives more blood than usual from the placenta.

This can put a strain on the baby’s heart and makes this twin produce more urine than normal, resulting in extra fluid around the baby, within the amniotic sac.

This can be uncomfortable for the mother and also increases the risk to the pregnancy by causingpremature labour due to the extra pressure on the neck of the womb (cervix).

The other twin is usually smaller and may become anaemic due to receiving less blood from the placenta.

The treatments for TTTS pregnancies depend, in part, on when in pregnancy the twins become affected.

If the twins are mature enough to survive outside the womb (beyond 25 weeks), immediate delivery is an option for TTTS babies.

Fetal laser surgery may be done to stop the flow of blood from one twin to the other.

Another treatment is amnioreduction - a procedure whereby fluid is taken from around the twin with polyhydramnios to try and prevent premature delivery. A needle is passed through the abdomen into the sac of the recipient twin and fluid removed.

Source: Liverpool Women's NHS

Since the post by Ashley's family their Facebook page, designed to give hope to other couples going through IVF, has been inundated with messages of support.

Twin to twin transfusion is caused by an abnormal connecting of blood vessels in the twins’ shared placenta which results in an imbalance of blood flow from one twin to the other.

It affects approximately 15% of identical twins who share the same placenta and treatments can include surgery.

The couple hit the headlines a few weeks ago when a video of the moment they found out they were having quadruplets after spending eight years trying to conceive went viral.

They were delighted to learn their first round of IVF was successful in July following a long battle with infertility.

But when they attended their first ultrasound, they were stunned to discover they were expecting four babies - at odds of 70 million to one.

Their incredible reaction to the news was captured in hospital by their friend, Alicia Hallock, and later uploaded online.

Footage shows the couple gazing open-mouthed at the screen, before Mrs Gardner places her hand on her forehead and breathes out.

The pair then start laughing in delight, while the mother-to-be holds up scans of her four babies.

Speaking to CNN, Mrs Gardner, who suffers from endometriosis - a condition which sees cells from the lining of the womb grow in other areas of the body - said she was shocked but excited to discover she was pregnant with quadruplets.

'I couldn't think straight. I had never been so excited and terrified in the same instant. We waited so long to have babies so we were so happy,' she said.

'But at that time we literally had never even thought once about this being a possibility. We didn't know anything about having quads and the risks that go with it. But overall, we were just excited.'

She added that her doctor 'didn't believe it' when he learned the news from the ultrasound technician - and asked her to come back the following week so he could 'see for himself'.

Couple shares their fertility journey in heartwarming video

Quadruplets: Mrs Gardner, who suffers from endometriosis - a condition where cells from the lining of the womb grow in other areas of the body - is pictured holding up scans of her four babies, who are all girls

Happy: Before getting pregnant, Mrs Gardner said she had spent eight years trying 'everything' to counter the fertility problems caused by her condition, which can also result in intense pain. Above, the Gardners

Before getting pregnant, Mrs Gardner spent eight years trying 'everything' to counter the fertility problems caused by her condition, which can also result in intense pain.

She adopted a specific diet, underwent a laparoscopy, took medication and had four failed rounds of intrauterine insemination, before finally saving up for IVF.

'My endometriosis was so bad that we found during the IVF process that it had compromised my eggs. They all started dying off and left us with one perfect egg and one good egg,' she said.

'They put both back to give me the best odds of one sticking. The chances of even getting one to stick was 40 per cent. To have both stick and both split... well, that's a one-in-70 million chance!'

But despite her joy, Mrs Gardner said she is aware of the risks involved in her pregnancy, writing on Facebook: 'I am extremely high risk and things can change at a moments notice for us.'

Couple: The Gardners recently attended another ultrasound, where they found out they are expecting girls

A proud mother-to-be: Mrs Gardner is pictured posing at 11 weeks' pregnant (right) and 16 weeks (left)

The Gardners, who live in Pleasant Grove, have documented their extraordinary pregnancy on a Facebook page, 'A Miracle Unfolding - Gardner Quadruplets'.

The page, which has so far gained nearly 60,000 'likes', also features photos of the moment the couple found out their first round of IVF had been successful.

In one image, Mrs Gardner is pictured weeping in her husband's arms as he clings on to her tearfully.

The couple recently attended another ultrasound, where they found out they are expecting four girls.

The babies - two sets of identical twins - are due to be born by cesarean section in December.