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By Emanuella Grinberg, CNN
updated 4:47 PM EST, Mon December 29, 2014
Ashley Gardner, who became pregnant through her first attempt at in-vitro fertilization, gave birth to two sets of identical twins Sunday.
After years of struggling to become pregnant, the Gardners were stunned to learn in July that their first attempt at IVF succeeded. As if the pregnancy weren't surprising enough, then Ashley went for an ultrasound.
That's when she learned she was pregnant with quadruplets. A photo of Ashley's reaction to the news was soon to go viral.
Their doctor didn't believe it when he learned the news from the ultrasound technician who performed the imaging, Ashley Gardner said. "He had me come back the next week so he could see it for himself."
The Gardners started a Facebook page after people started sharing pictures from the ultrasound all over the Internet.
The Gardners returned to their doctor for the gender reveal.
Again, they were surprised: four girls.
Tyson Gardner is the oldest of 10 children, eight of whom are boys, so all girls was the "last thing anyone expected," Ashley Gardner said. "Everyone is thrilled to even everything out."
Ashley said she was encouraged by the support people, even strangers, offered once she started opening up about her infertility struggle. It made her feel less alone.
Looking back on the day of the ultrasound shock is a happy memory for the pair. It was the "best day of our lives," Ashley Gardner said. "I still cry when I look at these" photos.
Meet the Gardner "Quad Squad"
Ashley and Tyson Gardner welcomed four girls Sunday night
The Utah couple learned in July that their first in-vitro fertilization attempt was successful
"Mom and babies are doing incredible," couple announces on Facebook page
(CNN) -- A Utah couple whose journey through in-vitro fertilization captivated the nation welcomed quadruplets -- two sets of identical twins -- Sunday.
Ashley and Tyson Gardner said they are "overwhelmed with joy" after the birth of Indie, Esme, Scarlett and Evangeline by Caesarean section at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo. Three of the newborns weighed a little more than 2 pounds at delivery. The fourth weighed slightly less than 2 pounds, according to the hospital.
The Gardners announced the news on the Facebook page where they share news about the pregnancy.
"Mom and babies are doing incredible!!! We are so happy with how everything turned out today! The doctors, nurses, and staff were incredible!! More updates to follow soon!!"
Post by A Miracle Unfolding-Gardner Quadruplets.
The Pleasant Grove couple conceived two sets of identical twins this summer with the help of in-vitro fertilization. In October, Ashley Gardner had emergency laser surgery in California to save one set suffering from twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, the hospital said in a news release. She began staying in an antepartum suite at Utah Valley Regional in November after doctors decided hospital bed rest was necessary.
The four girls, dubbed the "Quad Squad" by the hospital, were due March 11. Doctors decided to deliver them 12 weeks early after discovering that Ashley Gardner had ruptured some membranes and her contractions continued to progress in intensity, the hospital said.
Complications leading to premature delivery are common in multiple gestations, whether achieved naturally or though IVF, said Dr. Andrew Toledo, CEO of Reproductive Biology Associates in Atlanta, the largest IVF program in the Southeast. But data show that women who achieve pregnancy through IVF have a slightly higher rate of complications compared with patients who conceive naturally.
It's also extremely rare for both embryos to split, but it's more common in IVF pregnancies compared with patients who conceive naturally, he said.
In a YouTube video posted Sunday morning from the hospital, Tyson Gardner said that mom and the babies were doing well after a night in the hospital and that they expected the quads to come in the next couple of days.
"We need lots of prayers the next 48 hours," Ashley Gardner said from her hospital bed.
The Gardners tried for years to get pregnant. Finally, they learned in July that their first in-vitro fertilization attempt was successful. But the real surprise came during the ultrasound, when they learned she was pregnant with quadruplets.
A friend in the room captured the priceless look on her face in a picture that took the Internet by storm. In one week, the Gardners' Facebook page grew by nearly 16,000 likes to 24,300. Today, it has almost 300,000 Facebook fans, and the TV network TLC is following them for a series set to air in 2015.
Well-wishers flooded their Facebook page Monday with congratulations and requests for pictures.
"Congratulations," one person said. "Wishing you health and happiness for many years to come."