My birth story... by Theresa

Our story starts back in the year 2000, when we found we needed to try IVF to have the family we so desperately wanted. I had PCO and Steve's tadpoles weren`t sure what direction to swim in so tended to go round in circles!

I was a full time staff nurse on a plastic surgery ward when I started the treatment and my colleagues were fantastic. My first attempt failed which we coped with really well as neither of us expected it to work anyway. We had had 2 embryos transferred and had used the modern drugs recommended. In order to afford the treatment we had agreed to do egg share, so half of my eggs retrieved would go to another couple who needed eggs. They retrieved 24 eggs so the other couple definitely had some to choose from. We were told that I had "done well" !

The 2nd attempt was the next month, this time using the old traditional drugs and we agreed to have 3 embryos transferred as "chances of one taking was slim so why not have 3 chances in one go". Unfortunately my FSH was extremely high and they very nearly abandoned the cycle due to potential hyperstimulation but at the last moment they agreed to go ahead. I had 33 eggs retrieved!

3 days later we took the train to London and had 3 very gorgeous looking embryos transferred (my Dad and uncle were waiting outside the hospital to give us a lift home as they were working there. Always been a joke in our family that they were both there at the conception LOL!) Anyway travelled all the way home to Braintree laying on back seat with my legs in the air!!! No way were they going to fall out ! That was the Friday.

On the following Monday I was starting to feel unwell with nausea and very severe low abdominal pain. Was admitted to gynaecological ward and diagnosed with hyperstimulation. Over the next week I literally blew up, my legs, abdomen, privates,  the lot, were swollen with fluid. I ended up on a drip with oxygen, was so poorly but deep down, I knew it was a good sign and that I was probably pregnant. The scan showed huge cysts the size of melons on my ovaries.

Anyway, 2 weeks later and with rising HCG levels in my daily blood tests, they did a pregnancy test which confirmed I was definitely pregnant and probably multiple. Our initial thoughts were fantastic, twins! I was taken for a scan with dh eagerly waiting to see the two little blobs, when the sonographer said " oh my word, there are 3 sacs!!!" "Triplets!" Dh slid under the couch in shock and I giggled nervously.

I was discharged home and signed off  work for 4 weeks. The whole family were ecstatic! I have to say shock soon set in as I knew that even if I got pregnant  I would have to go back to work as soon as my maternity leave ended, which back then was 18 weeks!

The following weeks were just back and forth to the hospital for scans every 2 weeks. My consultant said on numerous occasions if it wasn`t for the scans he would dispute my triplets as I was so small.

At 20 weeks I was rushed by ambulance to hospital with undiagnosed heart problems which weren`t related with the triplet pregnancy but the pregnancy had exacerbated it.  I was given steroid injections at 24 weeks as I wasn`t feeling too good, then admitted at 25 weeks with low abdominal pain. The next day I was rushed to coronary care with heart complications.  3 days later I was back on the ante natal ward on complete bed rest.

I stayed here for the next 7 weeks, with 2 labour scares, one resulting in a blue light 999 dash down to Kent and Canterbury hospital as there were no intensive care beds in scbu in Chelmsford. The labour stopped as although my uterus was contracting,  as no head was on my cervix, it wouldn`t dilate. I was 31 weeks!

I was transferred back to Chelmsford and a date was booked for planned csection at 33 weeks. I made some fantastic friends in hospital and became a bit of a celebrity as the triplet mum to be!!! I drank so much milk due to indigestion that they had to get in extra supplies. 

2 days before c section I phoned local paper to enquire if they did an "It's triplets" announcement like they did "It's twins" or "It's a girl" etc, on their births, deaths and marriages page and the next thing I know I`m doing an interview for local paper before they were born!  Word spread to the national papers that an Essex couple had paid for their IVF using their tesco credit card and got triple clubcard points.

We were then known as the buy 2 get 1 free parents!!! You can check out The Sun newspaper on line for 1st march2001 for the article.

Phoebe was born first and weighed 3lb 30z, needed no help with breathing and screamed the loudest! Charlotte came next weighing 4lb 3oz and was not breathing, had surfactant put down her ET tube to lubricate her lungs. Kelsey came next weighing 4lb 10oz and initially breathing unaided but quickly became distressed and needed help breathing.

All 3 spent 24 hrs in intensive care before going into incubators in high dependency. Kelsey was very poorly with severe chest recession and awful infection. Have to say I never went near her for 4 days as I was convinced I was going to lose her. Staff picked up on this and I was sat down and she was put into my arms for a cuddle. Kelsey had to have a lumbar puncture as they queried meningitis which was awful, that was probably my worst moment. 

4 weeks later and all 3 were good weights and ready to come home. That's when the real work started. Scbu were fantastic and had got the girls into an excellent routine which we just continued at home.

Some people may think I am completely mad but I found that first year the best year of my life! I loved every minute! They slept through the night from 12 weeks and apart from being awful with their milk and giving back over half of what I gave them, they were excellent babies! (breast milk for first 4 weeks then formula, which in hindsight I totally regret as I had enough milk to fill a dairy!)

We were also VERY lucky, that after Tesco heard the story they supplied us with free Pampers nappies and wipes, was supposed to be for their first year but with special offers we manage to make the vouchers last the duration they were in nappies, (2years and 2 months).

They are now 8, having just had their birthday and although it seems at times that life gets harder every year, I wouldn't change a thing.

Best wishes

Theresa (Tripletmum)

Mum to Phoebe Charlotte and Kelsey 01/03/01