Everyone wants to know what causes the Derricos to multiply and Doubling Down with the Derricos mother Karen Derrico has already revealed that it isn’t IVF. Could it be the fact that Karen and Deon come from families of ‘multiple multiples’? It may actually turn out that Karen’s overactive ovaries are the reason behind the Doubling Down with the Derricos family having a whopping 14 children under one roof!
TLC won the big family reality TV game yet again with the Las Vegas-based Derricos. Quintuplets, triplets, and even twins… the Doubling Down with the Derricos family has them all. Karen and Deon feature in the wholesome show with their 11 (and then 14) children, with the addition of their newest triplets. The family offers numerous moments of joy, heart-wrenching instances of emotion, and a whole encyclopedia of parenting advice. The routines used to get the 14 little ones ready for school, meals, and bedtime (and the uniqueness of each of their big personalities) have left the show’s fans fascinated. However, the one question that the Derricos often get asked is what exactly causes them to have these miraculous sets of multiples, over and over again. 40-year-old Karen, aka the Doubling Down with the Derricos mom, has finally spilled the secret.
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Karen, who comes with a background in early childhood care and education, says that the reason behind the Doubling Down with the Derricos family being big is her overactive ovaries. In an interview with Zora, the stay-at-home mom revealed that she had two miscarriages before having her first baby Darian. Karen said that having the 14 children “was not easy.” The reality TV star shared how no one in the family had ever been through such an experience, which left her with no one to talk to.
During her first full-term pregnancy in 2006, Karen was told by a high-risk specialist that she had a short cervix. This condition can result in premature labor and birth and also miscarriage. This is why the Derrico mom was treated with progesterone and put on bed rest. For all of Karen’s five pregnancies post-Darian’s birth, Karen had to go through a procedure called cervical cerclage (a cervical stitch in which synthetic tapes or sutures are used to reinforce the cervix). After the procedure, Karen gave birth successfully six times, aside from having the usual bouts of morning sickness. What caused her to have multiple births is Karen Derrico’s overactive ovaries, which make her body release multiple eggs per cycle.
The Doubling Down with the Derricos celeb revealed that she was unaware of her unique condition until after the birth of her second set of triplets, Dawsyn, De’Aren, and Dyver. “I don’t think it really hit me until the last set of babies,” shared the mother-of-14, before adding, “I know it sounds strange, but I think it was something about that second set of triplets that has now made me realize this is a big deal.” Karen exclaimed in conclusion, “Then I find out that I have overactive ovaries.”
The Derrico family and their uniqueness have been a great source of entertainment for reality TV fans who usually get treated to drama and disagreements. There’s just something about Doubling Down with the Derricos that makes the family so endearing and easy to relate to. TLC fans shouldn’t be surprised if the network decides to double down on the show’s seasons as well, owing to its steadily rising success.
Doubling Down with the Derricos airs Tuesdays at 10 pm ET on TLC.
Source: Zora