What it's like to be pregnant with quintuplets

Kim Tucci at 24 weeks into her pregnancy. Photo / Erin Elizabeth

From eating 6,000 calories a day to making 12 trips a night to the bathroom, a young mum carrying quintuplets has shared what it's like to be pregnant with five babies.

Kim Tucci, 26, of Perth, Australia, naturally conceived four girls and a boy, and already has two young daughters.

Documenting her journey so far on her blog, "Surprised by Five", Tucci has amassed a following of 123,000 people, gripped by her details of managing nausea and dealing with changes to her body.

To commemorate the expectant mother's journey, photographer Erin Elizabeth created a photo series for Tucci. / Erin Elizabeth

Initially told she was pregnant with twins, Tucci said her world turned upside down when the doctor found five separate heart beats.

"I called my husband from the ultrasound room but I don't think he believed me at first. "He quickly drove down. I could see the excitement in his face he told me 'We can do this'."

And as each day passes, the soon to be mother-of-seven says her pregnancy is only getting tougher.

Kim Tucci was trying for a son when she fell pregnant with five. Photo / Erin Elizabeth

"'It's getting harder as each day passes to push through the pain, every part of my body aches and sleeping is becoming very painful," she said.

"No amount of pillows are helping support my back and belly. Sometime I get so upset that I just want to throw my hands up and give in!"

At 29 weeks, Tucci says she has to force feed herself three times the amount of calories one person should eat in a day to reach the recommended intake.

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To commemorate the expectant mother's journey, photographer Erin Elizabeth created a photo series for Tucci.

With two daughters already, Tucci and her husband are bracing themselves for life as a big family. Photo / Erin Elizabeth

Tucci says it's taken up until now to realise what an immense change the arrival of her quintuplets will be for her family.

"I have only just really embraced this pregnancy and what it will mean for my family, the last few days has been a reality check that it's all really happening!

"It's hard to accept life will change forever and my small family will be HUGE all in one hit," she said.

Despite having been admitted to hospital on a few occasions, all five babies are healthy.

- nzherald.co.nz