150 nappies 112 vests 56 Babygros 168 bibs 900g of baby milk formula 4 boxes of baby wipes 2 large bottles of baby lotion 2 large bottles of shampoo.. A WEEK! EXCLUSIVE.

Byline: By JENNY BRAY

THIS is the awesome foursome who have turned mum Shabnum Sadiq's life upside-down.

Naturally conceived quads Haider, Zayan, Maheen and Zareen beat odds of 729,000-1 to be born.

The two non-identical boys and two identical girls arrived less than a year after Shabnum - also mum of Shireen, six - was told a medical condition made it unlikely she would ever be pregnant again.

Now the healthy six-week-olds have their mum working a gruelling 19-hour day in the family's two-bedroom home. And they're worth every minute of it.

Shabnum, 25, said: "I rarely have a moment to myself. I get up at 4.30am, go to bed at 11.30pm and in between is a continuous whirl of nappy-changing, bottle-feeding, bathing and changing clothes.

"I have an industrial-sized washing machine to wash the 56 Babygros, 112 vests and 168 bibs they wear each week, as well as all the rest of the family's clothes."

On top of that Shabnum and husband Khizran, 27, must buy 150 nappies, a 900g box of baby formula, four boxes of baby wipes, and two large bottles each of baby lotion, talc and shampoo each week - plus a huge box of wash powder.

Shabnum, of Reading, Berks, said: "I know there's a lot of hard work ahead of us. But I'll never moan. It's so amazing the babies made it into this world.

"When doctors told me there was little or no hope that I'd be able to conceive again I curled up in bed and cried for hours.

"Now, whenever I look at my little babies sleeping peacefully my eyes well up because I'm so happy. They're four little miracles."

Self-employed builder Khizran added: "I'm completely gobsmacked and couldn't be happier.

"I love Shabnum and we have a strong marriage. But the quads have completed our family. They're such a blessing."

FOUR years ago Shabnum and Khizran were devastated when their longed-for second child miscarried.

Shabnum said: "I desperately wanted a sibling for Shireen. I worried she'd be lonely on her own. I was devastated. So I ploughed myself into my career instead."

She completed a degree in accounting before getting a job as a management trainee.

Then, two years later, Shabnum's periods stopped. To her horror, she was told she had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome which made it unlikely she would conceive again.

Prescribed drugs meant her periods returned immediately. "I was delighted," said Shabnum. "I felt like a woman again."

Three months later her periods again stopped. Friends advised her to have a pregnancy test just in case the impossible had happened.

Shabnum said: "I nearly fainted when the test came up positive. But I didn't trust it. So I went out and bought two more tests." Each one showed she was pregnant.

Shabnum recalled: "I told Khizran and he was over the moon. I was, too. But I was still a bit wary."

Seven weeks into her term, the mum started bleeding. She was taken to hospital amid fears of another miscarriage.

And there, in the scanning room, Shabnum and Khizran were given the extraordinary news.

Shabnum said: "The midwife pointed to three grey blobs on the monitor. I assumed they were cysts.

"But she explained they were two babies in two sacs and two in one sac. I was carrying quads. We couldn't take it in. We'd prepared ourselves for the worst. We weren't ready to be told something so good.

"To still be carrying one baby was shock enough, let alone four."

Khizran said: "I was so chuffed I left Shabnum stranded on the bed in the scanning room while I went out to ring everyone.

"When I told people, they called me Superman! I basked in it."

As her pregnancy advanced Shabnum doubled her dress size 14.

She said: "I was so huge I had to use crutches. My stomach was so massive I couldn't even see my feet."

At 28 weeks, she feared her dream of being a mum again was shattered when she fell down stairs at home. She was taken to hospital. Amazingly, the quads were unhurt.

SIX weeks ago the babies were born by caesarean section at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, in Reading.

Squeamish Khizran had fainted at Shireen's birth. So he waited outside the theatre while Shabnum's sister Anjim, 35, was by the mum's side.

Son Haider came first weighing in at 2lbs 15ozs. He was followed by brother Zayan at 3lbs 9ozs. Then came Maheen, weighing 3lbs 3ozs, and Zareen at 3lbs. It was over in five minutes. Against the odds, all were healthy. Quads normally have only a 20 per cent chance of survival.

Shabnum said: "It was very emotional. They were so little and fragile and looked like four miniature dolls.

"But the main thing was that they were alive and doing well."

Two weeks ago the tots were strong enough to be allowed home. Their mum said: "My life changed practically overnight.

"The quads have their own room and sleep in two big cots, while Shireen is in with us. I need a helper every four hours to do feeds. But Khizran takes Shireen to school and helps as much as he can. I'm lucky to have so much support. I don't think I could have coped on my own.

"At the moment I can't go out on my own with the quads. But I've recently ordered a four-seater buggy from the US so I'll give that a go."

Already, the babies are developing distinct personalities. Shabnum said: "Haider and Zareen always cry together, Zayan is the most placid and Maheen is very patient."

But Shabnum still has trouble telling the identical girls apart and has kept their hospital name tags on their ankles. She said: "I can't spot any difference. Soon they'll be too big for their tags. Maybe I'll paint their toenails in different colours."

Meanwhile proud Shireen has been bringing her small friends in to see the new arrivals, making them queue politely at the door.

Shabnum said: "Our new babies already have celebrity status - and in our eyes they always will."

CANCER survivor Rebecca Hillary, 23, of Colburn, North Yorks, has given birth to triplets after being told her chemotherapy treatment could have made her infertile. She already has a 17-month-old daughter.

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CAPTION(S):

PREGNANT: Mum Shabnum' BIG SHOP: Supplies the baby quads need every week' OH, BABY: Top, Haider, Zayan. Below, Zareen and Maheen Pictures: MIKE MOORE