Triplet pregnancies can be absolutely terrifying. You feel so out of control. There are three little lives growing in your belly and you are told by all your doctors and OBs all the risks and all the dangers, you begin to feel like you are made of glass. Please no TTTS, please no preterm labour, please let my babies survive and be healthy. Each day was frightening, and each day was a milestone.
It was at the very beginning I was told that I only had a 30% chance of any ONE baby surviving and I’d be lucky to make it to 24 wks, and if I did, they’d monitor me till my body packed it in and then they’d (their words)” cut them out of me.” No idea what that old midwife wished to accomplish by saying that, but it simply terrified me!
I went home and started researching. All I found was c-section YouTube videos. I searched for weeks, and cried each day. I was horrified at how early they’d come and the medical procedures and intervention they faced in their first moments on earth. So I just kept looking. I knew I needed to let my babies cook as long as they could, and birth my babies as naturally as I could, so they had the best possible start to life. I wanted to give them the same beginning as I’d given my three boys. So I Googled, and joined forums, and asked questions to everyone I could find with a hand full of answers.
I joined a group for triplets, one that was Australia based, it was there that I found a few vaginally birthing triplet mums and I found another pregnant mum who was as committed as me. We found that any posting about our desires to birth vaginally was faced with terrible negativity. So we started a Facebook group Birthing Multiples Naturally. In that group we found like-minded people and shared information freely. I was on my path to meet my girls.
At every OB appointment I was bullied and told what I WILL be doing with my body. I WILL have a c-section, I WILL have it when they say. But I had armed myself with knowledge – for every bit of information they gave me to support their wanting to take my babies out early by c-section, I researched and found evidence contradicting them. I gathered all the information to make an informed and educated decision and stuck with it.
At every appointment I maintained that I would go to 36 wks or as long as the babies needed, I would have three heads down and I WOULD have a vaginal birth. and at each appointment I was scoffed. Even my sonographer would smirk and say “I’d be impressed if you made 30 wks”.
At 30 wks my three girls decided they’d all prefer breech, putting a smile on my OB’s faces as they smugly said…” well, you’ll be having a c-section now?” In answer, “no, I’ll go and have acupuncture and use positions to turn my babies”. You can imagine their responses. LOL.
Well I did. Chinese acupuncture and using “spinning babies” techniques and I found myself in hospital with two heads trying to both get into my pelvis. It was then they decided to keep me in hospital for the remainder of the pregnancy.
The bullying began. Strong, nasty, consistent bullying. Tag-teaming OB’s, doctors, nurses. They even had OB’s from their sister hospital come over to talk down to me. But I knew what was right for my babies. Id birthed three big babies before; I knew I could birth three tiny little triplets.
I kept researching, taking vitamins and minerals, magnesium for prevention if preterm labour, and doing my positions on the hospital bed. I missed my boys like crazy, but I was determined to keep this pregnancy going. Week after week I designed my birth plan, and week after week I terrified my OB’s. I built a strong relationship with wonderful midwives. I was looked after and treated with dignity by these amazing women who never doubted me. They helped me day to day with my teary days and my discomfort, they made a belly cast of my enormous belly, and helped me with my birth plan.
At 34 1/2 weeks I felt three sets of feet in my ribs! They did an ultrasound to check, and yes!!! Three heads down!!!!!! I wrote my birth plan out on a big piece of cardboard and pinned it to my wall. My OB’s walked in, saw it, turned white and walked out. Soon they came back with paperwork for me to sign. I was going to have a good birth. I believed in my body. I believed in my babies, and I believed in my midwives, who is decided would be delivering my babies and with no epidural using active labour.
At 35 wks I felt strange. I truly felt like my body had hit a wall. I asked for a growth scan as I believed that my babies had stopped growing. I felt something was not right. A few days later they did the scan and sure enough the babies had stopped growing and things needed to progress.
I decided to try bringing my labour on myself. I used everything. Every old wives’ tale, right up to stretch and sweep. Nothing!!!! Can you believe it, all that time fearing preterm labour and now I want it to start and it won’t!!! I tried and tried, but nothing but a few strong BH contractions.
So I decided that I had no choice but to induce.
I was terrified of induction. I was worried that one intervention would lead to another. I had a few friends, my sister and my husband with me after they gave me a strong stretch and sweep and broke my waters, and then they hooked me up to the synto drip. I walked around, bounced on the ball and rotated my hips, I laughed and joked and talked. I was scared, but this was my day! I was going to meet my girls.
Once contractions were established my friends and my sister left so that I could focus. I concentrated on feeling my little sweetheart lowering to my cervix. Aneyah was the leading baby. We had a head monitor on her, (which I wasn’t struck on, but it was needed) I stayed standing until I physically couldn’t any more. They had me famining just in case, and I was completely exhausted. I’d brought berocca with me but was not allowed to have it in case they needed to intubate me in an emergency. So I got up on my hands and knees on the bed. The contractions were so strong now. People were starting to fill my room, but I used gas and concentrated on blocking them all out and just feeling my daughters lowering.
As I began to push, Aneyah’s heart rate started dropping. I could feel her head at my cervix and could not seem to push her through. One of my midwives checked and said that my cervix just wasn’t letting her through, so she helped. While I pushed, she gently helped my cervix over her head, it worked. I turned around to sit up with my knees up at the end of the bed. It was time. Before I knew it my little princess’s head was crowning. Two more pushes and Aneyah was out and placed on my chest. My beautiful, amazing little girl, screamed for just a moment then just looked at me. I was in love. She was so beautiful. My husband cut the cord, and before I knew it I was feeling the need to bear down again. They passed Aneyah from me to my husband and I started to push. Another head started to lower through my cervix and crown, the OB decided to help by breaking my waters, as he went to do so, I beared down, and with a beautiful twist, my waters exploded all over him. A moment that gave me a good laugh! Just 15 minutes after her sister Kalanee arrived into the world and straight to my chest. Such intense love. Another perfect beautiful wonderful little girl who screamed for just a moment then snuggled into my arms. Complete love. But I could only hold her just a moment, because I had one more special person to concentrate on. Lealah. I passed Kalanee over to one of my midwives and put my hands above my third little princess. It was much harder to push with her. I could not feel my stomach muscles because they’d stretched so much, and all that space and one tiny little baby, but I held my hand above her and beared down. My waters broke as she was crowning and she literally came out in one slurp with what seemed like a bucket of blood. Lealah was placed immediately on my chest and I was given the scissors to cut her cord. What a moment. She gurgled a little and I passed her over to be checked. Immediately afterward, I felt the need to push again. My placenta had come away early and was chasing Lealah out.
The placenta was so big; it was two that had shared and one that was fused. It felt like another baby, and it was at this point that someone in the room decided to joke about a possible fourth that had gone unseen. I was quite unimpressed.
I did lose quite a decent amount of blood, but the body is amazing. My haemoglobin was actually higher after than the day before. It seems all that bloating was my body preparing.
They were: Aneyah – 4lb 7oz, Kalanee – 4lb 9oz; and Lealah – 4lb 11 oz. The first two were 15 minutes apart and the second and third were 12 minutes apart. They were 35.6 wks, and all head down. My entire labour was calculated at 4.5 hours.
My three girls were very quick to pick up breast feeding. They had no formula from the moment they were born. We had a little jaundice from being four weeks early, but they were healthy and strong. After just five days we all left the hospital fully breast fed and mummy’s little princesses. Today they are nearly six months, still exclusively breast fed and doing amazingly. I have three beautiful boys and three beautiful girls. I feel like the most blessed woman in the world.
Recommended Reading
One Woman’s Successful Frank Breech Vaginal Hospital Birth
The Birth of Sicily Rose {Postpartum Hemorrhage, Vanishing Twin Syndrome}
Birth Of Elsie {Homebirth Story With Siblings}
A Mother Will Overcome {I Am Strong}
My Fearless Birth {Home birth turned hospital}- A Beautiful Family Home Birth/Baby Caught by Grandmother {Graphic Emergence Photos}
The Birth of a Bus {Really}- Birth Story of Ace {Homebirth Transfer to Cesarean}
Finally, Relief! {A Painful Pregnancy, Spinal Injury}
Logan’s Birth Story {Med-Free Hospital Birth}
311 Comments
Kateisfun
What an incredible story! I’m so glad you found the other expecting triplet mama to rally with before the birth. Thanks for sharing all the pictures, they are amazing! Congratulations, I’m sure you’ll be an inspiration for other multiple mamas out there.
Babymoon Birth Services
WOW! You are a warrior! Truly inspirational, and so beautiful. Thank you for being the trail blazer, and showing that even with triplets, a baby and mama friendly birth is possible.
Tara
Wow! Oh Wowee wow WOW! This story blows my mind! You took on such uncharted waters and you fought for your rights and what you knew was best for your babies and you did AMAZING! Thank you for all the detailed descriptions of how it felt to push out each baby. It’s beyond my comprehension. I thought giving birth one at a time was so amazing. You had a triple dose! Well done to you mama! Carry on! I pray all continues to go so smoothly.
amanda bull
You are STUNNING!!!!! I am a midwife and can imagine the pressure you were put under to conform. I cannot give you enough respect in words for what you have done….and to still be breastfeeding. Hats off….totally awesome example of all powerful woman!!!!
Jessica
This is so inspiring! I am exclusively breastfeeding my first baby and at times it has been so hard! But if she can keep up with three I can certainly keep up with one 🙂 Thanks for sharing this!!
Leah
AMAZING! Thank you so much for sharing. I commend you on your determination and rigorous research. It seems like you definitely followed your instincts. Congratulations on your beautiful babies, all 6 of them! I’ve never heard of a vaginal delivery for triplets but based on your experience, it seems doable with enough will power.
Robin
amazing!
Amy Swagman
I LOVE this amazing story!! Is there any way I can use some photos for an art piece?? I love the breastfeeding one and any others you may have. I also would absolutely love to get my hands on one of those belly casts, so beautiful! Please please email me!
<3 Amy
Laura
Just amazing!!! SO very proud of you for trusting your body, doing your research, and being strong enough to stand up for yourself! So wonderful that everything went beautifully!
Alyssa
Wow! You are amazing. I loved this story of your incredible strength and determination!
Jessica
Wow, I read a LOT of the birth stories that go on here but I have never felt compelled to comment before but way to go, mama! The inner strength it takes to stand up to anyone in the medical community like that is phenomenal.
Hails
You are incredible 🙂 simply and utterly incredible! Well done 🙂
Angela
You are truly amazing. I cant imagine doing any of what you did! I understand the cervix deal as my 4 single girls each had trouble getting through, and the last was c section after 2 days of labor that did not progress far enough making it necessary. I am currently feeding her and cant imagine feeding 3 either! I had a hard enough time just last night trying to get outside to deal with my mama donkey in labor. Your right to be proud! Every mother is amazing, but you have really done something special. They are such pretty girls! Good job mama!
Cassi
You are amazing! Congratulations
Ashley
That’s my girl! <3 Ya Jess!
Kathie Holmes
What a fantastic tribute to the strength of a woman. Thank you for sharing your story and I can’t wait to share it with those closest to me who are about to have babies. You are an inspiration.
Bridget Ilardo Williams
“it was at this point that someone in the room decided to joke about a possible fourth that had gone unseen. I was quite unimpressed.” O.o Why people think that is funny I will never know!
Anyway, Jess, you are an inspiration, truly. I could not find a single Dr in my area who would agree to see me if I wanted to attempt vaginal birth with my triplets. I ended up with a life-saving c/s as it turned out, however… the “standard of care” (automatic c/s) for moms of triplets needs to change! Thanks for blazing the trail Jess, you rock mama!! <3
Erin Phillips
Omg that is amazing you go girl!
Simaleah
Thank you so much for sharing your family’s beautiful story. If your kids are anything like you, the world is going to look a whole lot better in twenty years.
Rebekah
Wow! Such an amazing story! You are amazing. And I absolutely ADORE the names you chose for your girls!
MaLissa Mobley
I just want to let you know that you are amazing… I had twins 16 years ago c section due to their size and the fact that twin B was breech… you are an amazing strong woman….
Felice
Beautiful and inspiring – what an amazing mummy!
kahu
Damn girl, awesome work! Inspiring from start to finish, love love love it!
Melly
Wow you are amazing! I can’t believe you birthed 3 babies at once! I couldn’t even manage to get my one out. 🙁 That is great that you had midwives in your hospital. I’ve never heard of that. Also never heard of anyone getting gas while in labor. What sort of gas is it?
God Bless you and your beautiful babies!
Elizabeth
Amazing! Just amazing! What a blessed mama!
Irma
What an amazing, inspiring story! Plenty singleton mamas could take a page from your book. Congratulations on a beautiful family!
Jenny Hall
You are one amazing momma! I am a home birth midwife and a mom to one (so far) and I ate up your story like someone who was starving! I had the honor and privilege of being the midwife for a mom who had her twins at home just this last March and it was an amazing experience. My favorite picture of you has to be nursing while cradling the other 2 in your legs. Keep on keeping on! We need more strong mommas like you in the world of medicalized birth. Thanks for sharing your story.
Jae
I also have triplet girls! congrats on your vaginal birth:)
Glynis Litwin
Thank you so much for being so strong and for sharing your story!!! You ARE BLESSED!!!
Robin Dini
How incredibly amazing and powerful your story is. You stuck to your preferences and beliefs and had the birth that you wanted without being bullied. Incredible. Your daughters (and your boys) are beautiful children and you are an amazing mom for following your heart and your body through this journey as a mother. Xo
Emma
wow! what an amazing story! I love reading all of the positive birth stories, they fill me with hope that i CAN and WILL do it the way i want for baby number 2!
Sherri B
Very inspiring! Thanks for sharing your story and not backing down.
Tanya
Thank you som much for sharing your amazing journey with us. You just prove that our bodies are so strong and with the right information and support (or even lack of from the OBs) you can do anything.
Katie
YOU ARE MY HERO and I will share your story with all who care to listen!!!! Beautiful ladies all 3 of you, and don’t even let me start on those handsome boys…….can’t see dad very well in the picture, but I am sure he has your back!
Blessings to you and yours!!
Kaya
A-FREAKING-MAZING! You are a SuperMom! What a beautiful family you have! 🙂
Alisan
This is the most incredible birth story. I’m so inspired. This is an awesome example of how perfectly our bodies were created and if we just trust everything will turn out just fine.
Diana Hubbard
I’m anEnglish trained midwife from the mid 60s.I have delivered twins at home, and I found your story truly inspiring.Your 3 beautiful children are very lucky to have such wellput together parents.Pregnancy birth x3 AND breastfeeding…..wow I’m so impressed.I just loved your story.I hope your life is as smooth as your delivery.I’m not on facebook, but using my daughters facebook .Good luck
Holly S
This story makes me so happy!! Beautiful, all of you, and good for you for sticking up for what you knew was best!
Lenore Gaudin
As a student of Tom Brewer, MD I am reminded of a story he sent me of triplets whose mom drank almost a gallon of milk a day and had babies of your size girls and spent no time in the NICU. I congratulate you on your determination and trust of your body. What did you do nutritionally?
Jessica
Oh my gosh mamma! You did such an awesome job! I am so pleased that you have been able to EBF triplets! That just makes me so dang happy. I love that you educated yourself and was able to stick to your guns and do what you needed to do! I will be showing this post to a few of my clients. Hopefully they will be just as empowered as you were. Much love to you mamma! You are my hero!
Karen Parris
OK. I want the name of this amazing mama -She is my HERO! I’d love to be acquaintances on Facebook, follow a blog, or something lol
<3 <3 <3 this story!
su carey
It can be done. My mother now was one of triplets. Two boys and a girl. Her mother was 22 in 1917. She was the first person in Baltimore, at Womens hospital to have a multiple birth. It was written up in the 1917 Baltimore Sun Newspapeer. My grandmother had no complications, she went home in two weeks, and began a long struggle as a single mother. My mother lived the longest, till 90. So happy all went well with you. Happy days are with you for a very long time.
Stacy
You are an amazing woman. A beautiful mother.
Stacy
2UBA5C-sections
Shelby
I’m sorry to hear that the hospital staff gave you such a hard time! Every woman deserves to bring their children into the world the way they feel is right. There I no reason at all that you shouldn’t have been given a trial of labor. As a new nursing graduate, I plan on being the exact opposite of the nurses you encountered. Stories such as this make me want to work harder and harder to make a difference on our modern maternity care. God bless!
Victoria
This is such an amazing story!! You did such an amazing job and I hope this story allows you to encourage women for the rest of your life! What a great testimony for other moms of multiples and also for the medical staff to see what is possible. Blessings to you and your family, from Boise, Idaho.
Aimee
That is soooo beautiful. Congratulations! Wow. So inspirational. A true mummy 🙂
Kristie
You are freaking amazing!!! I am so inspired by you!
Jackie
I just think it is all amazing and that you did it so wonderfully. Beautiful babies you have and same with the older boys.. Your picture nursing one and the other 2 sleeping between your legs resting there heads on each knew. I love it. It looks like it all just came together and you are a natural. 🙂 Congrats mommy and babies.
Daisy
you are an inspiration to everybody! hats off to you!!!
Heather Villa
Truly awe-mazing woman…You are one of the many inspirations for me opening our natural parenting and natural birthing support center in Spokane, Wa, “Bella Cova and the Stork Market Cafe! Thank you for sharing these stories and staying strong. Your body knows what to do…the baby knows what to do. End of story. (www.Facebook.com/bellacovaspokane). Opening June 1St!!
Commy
Amazing! What a determined Mum. Thanks for sharing!