Raising triplets

That first pregnancy ultrasound is usually filled with nervous anticipation and excitement for new parents. But imagine the shock for parents in finding there are three little beings occupying the space on the ultrasound screen!

Mums of triplets, Marcia and Renee, share their stories – from that first amazing ultrasound to day-to-day life with their triplets and families today. Marcia shares her story here.

Who’s in your family Marcia?
Marcia and Daniel Murray. And the children: Joshua, Olivia and Jasmine, who turned three in August.

How did you and your husband react when you first found out you were expecting triplets?
I was about five weeks pregnant when we flew to Fiji on holidays. I started to feel that things weren’t right, and was glad when we arrived back home. I started to bleed, so I contacted my doctor about the possibility of having an early scan.

The scan, at six and a half weeks gestation, took much longer than we anticipated, but we eagerly asked throughout the scan if our baby appeared normal for its gestation. We were keen to see that heartbeat! The sonographer advised us she needed more time to look at things to make her conclusion, so we anxiously waited. All up our scan took just over one hour.

When the sonographer was ready she showed us a baby. We were delighted to see a healthy heartbeat flickering away on the screen.

The sonographer then directed us to another area of my abdomen and pointed out something more. We were unsure what this was (I thought maybe it was a cyst). But we were then told it was another healthy heartbeat! We smiled nervously!

The sonographer then moved the ultrasound once again, “And see over here, you’ve got three.”

Three!

That afternoon on our way home from the scan we had moments of silence and moments of laughter as we worried about what the coming months and years would bring.

We were advised at that very first scan of the risks associated with carrying a triplet pregnancy. Our excitement was soon overcome with fear.

How did family and friends react to the news?
Upon arriving back from our holiday in Fiji I had started working in a new job. I tried to hide my pregnancy from my new colleagues. However by the time I was seven weeks pregnant there were already whispers around the office. I was looking like a woman who was 14 weeks!

Our plan was to hold off telling our family and friends about our pregnancy for as long as we could due to the risks involved. We planned to announce our pregnancy at 12 weeks however at this point I was measuring at the size of a 19-week pregnancy, so our pregnancy announcement was not a surprise when made.

The announcement of my pregnancy came as a double blow to my new employer. Not only did I make an overdue announcement of my pregnancy but I also announced that I would be leaving; my obstetrician had strongly advised that I finish my employment to commence bed rest at home, due to an already shortening cervix.

What did come of surprise was telling family we were carrying triplets. Most had suspected twins, however their imaginations hadn’t stretched as far as triplets.

How did things go on the day of their birth?
I had suffered what felt like a long pregnancy so I was relieved when I knew it would soon be over.

Despite having been at home on bed rest since 12 weeks my cervix had shrunk to 1.2cm and had required an urgent suture at 25 weeks gestation to prevent what my doctor considered as imminent labour. I was then admitted to hospital on strict bed rest with a suture in my cervix.

I was diagnosed with both gestational diabetes and obstetric cholestasis from 28 weeks. The obstetric cholestasis felt as profusely itchy as chicken pox and it lasted for the remainder of my pregnancy.

My obstetrician helped me to push my pregnancy as far as my body would carry it. My obstetric care was lead by my private obstetrician. He who also worked closely with the Foetal Medicine Unit at The Canberra Hospital and a team of neonatal paediatricians at the hospitals NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) and a gastroenterologist who was monitoring my liver condition (caused by the obstetric cholestasis).

I was 31 weeks and 4 days when I had the caesarean. We were advised that this was the safest delivery as the babies were thought to be starting to become unwell due to my condition. The caesarean happened quietly and quickly. After seven weeks of being confined to a hospital bed, the birth felt like an anti-climax, which was disappointing. The surgery was filled with about 20-25 people and each of the three babies had a paediatrician and two neonatal nurses plus other various theatre staff.

Joshua Daniel was our first born weighing in at 1.555kg, Olivia Rose followed at 1.550kg and Jasmine Stephanie was lucky last at 1.185kg. Both Olivia & Jasmine were put on CPAP to aid their breathing but Joshua breathed on his own.

Olivia and Jasmine were taken straight to the NICU but I was able to quickly admire Joshua before he too went to the NICU. After I left the recovery room I was taken up to the NICU where I enjoyed my first cuddle with Joshua.

What is the best thing about raising triplets?
The joy of three little ones coming up to you and telling they love you. We are also told regularly that we are lucky in having an ‘instant family’ and ‘it is all over in one hit’ but I can assure you that this does not come without the hard work and sleepless nights early in the piece.

What is a typical day like in your family?
In the early days when we first arrived home from the hospital our day was very routine-driven. Initially we would feed them every three hours around the clock. Each feed usually took about 50 minutes to 1½ hours depending on how much help was available.

Getting out of the house on my own in the early days was next to impossible due to the time it took me to feed them. We would no sooner be organised enough to leave the house and I would have to start feeding them again!

As they grew older their feed times would stretch out to 3 ½ hours & then to 4 hours, and their awake time became longer. We are now three years down the track and able to enjoy our babies which are really now our toddlers.

Despite them being three we still maintain a daily routine in the way we approach our days. Don’t worry; this is still filled with tantrums, disobedience, fighting, refusing to eat, and backchatting, but this is equally weighed up with good behaviour. It is certainly rewarding (and relaxing) to see all of them play nicely together and entertain themselves. 

Do you have any advice for other parents who are expecting triplets?
It is really important that expecting couples form a really strong support network with friends, family and volunteers who can help out with feeding and domestic duties. We actually had a weekly roster for the first four months. It is really difficult to do it by yourselves especially if your partner needs to leave and go work every day. I actually recall many instances when I was on my own when the babies woke at the same time for a feed as newborns. On these occasions I found myself attempting to feed two babies simultaneously whilst rocking the third baby (usually screaming) with a spare foot whilst trying not to disrupt the other two feeding babies.

Also, I believe it’s important to take time out for your own personal space. If you and your partner are happy then your ability to manage the kids becomes easier. Many people put their kids first (which is natural to do), but in the long run the relationship suffers and so does their health and wellbeing which then directly affects the children. Put time aside for each other (nights off, movies, coffee at a café etc) and yourselves (exercise, friends etc).

Finally, get a dog. Great for cleaning up mess after a toddler dinner - they are a dishwasher for the floor!

Read Renee’s story here.

Are you expecting multiples? Head on over to Essential Baby’s Twins, Triplets, Quads & more discussion forum!