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
ellen
Way to go Momma! That’s so impressive!
Millissa medway
What a wonderful wonderful birth story! You are amazing!!
Crisitna
Your very lucky to have gone so long. I only made it to 32 weeks with my twins and I started bleeding uncontrollably, rushed to emergency C-section, turns out one of my babies placenta’s detached 50%. I had no signs of pre-term labor and same as you always had 36 weeks in my mind and hopes. I think with multiple births any things can happen and we just have to stay open minded. I cried on the way into surgery knowing they would be in the NICU. 5 weeks later I took them home and was lucky that all they were was early and had no other health issues. We ran into another lady that went to 37 weeks with her triplets. Amazing!
Sharon Warland
Amazing lady. Good on you for sticking to your plans. May your girls inherit your strong beliefs
Lydia Clarke
You are amazing!!! So proud of you , thank you so much for sharing your story. Go mama!!!!
jessica
You are a very strong woman. You have a great story to inspire many woman. I’m glad everyone was healthy and happy.
Jackie
Amazing!! You are a true inspiration to many! Loved reading your birth story!
Shelly L Stanley
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story. I am American Labor &Delivery nurse and I admire your passion and commitment to your body and your babies’ health. You have a beautiful family and are an amazing mother. I hope others reading this only help to bring about a culture of allowing more natural and hands off birthing with less interventions.
Cathy
I’m sooo glad you held onto your wishes!!! Girl power!!!! Congrats!!!!
Kong ChoonYen
Thank you for sharing your wonderful birth of your triplets. Good job to you. You were amazing nurturing three babies at the same time and what a beautiful birth you had. I love seeing your three little boys caring for their younger sisters. Bless you all.
Melanie
Wow! This story and those pictures made me cry! So beautiful.
Orla
What a wonderful story; congratulations on sticking with your beliefs and having such a perfect birth. You’re a great example to your family!
clarisa
Honey Congratulations!! your history must be hear!!!! and after oyur babys grow up you MUST be a midwife!! the worl really need more who belive in the power of body to give birth. congratulations again!
Storm
What a wonderful story 🙂 You’re a strong, fearless, brilliant woman, and an inspiration to Mums out there facing these same choices. Fierce heart, educated and informed mind, and granite strong courage.
A winning combo all round. xox
Melissa Blaske
This is the power of intention and the law of attraction!! You go girlfriend!!
Alma
Thank you so much for sharing. Way to go for NOT letting the doctors and hospital control YOUR birth plan. You have an absolutely beautiful family!!!
kris roldan
I am a 65 year old woman now who was told back in 1970 -1972 that because my child was breache folded in half sideways so everytime she tried to push her way down.. and out ..she was getting stucker and stucker… trying to streach out and turn around somehow …and her poor little head …and my poor rib cage was taking a brutal fight with each kick and push,,,,,my poor darling baby I was so upset with my self ,,I tried to tell my dr early that when i layed on the floor and I put my legs on the seat of the chair at my moms house to help take the pressure off my back one night ,,,,,,,that she did a sommersalt inside my body I said MOM the baby just did a complete flip around in my belly,,,,,she said oh honey this is your first baby,,babys do this all the time and keep doing it till they are born they just move all around,,I said yea i know that but this was not just a little move around ,,THIS was a complete summersault for real,,,,,,,I was freaking out,,,what if the cord just wrapped around her neck and she is gonna strangle in there if she flips around some more she could hang herself! I was totally freaked!!!! I called my dr he says come on in and I will examine you ok? OK yes i will be there this afternoon can you squeese me in please today??? Yes come on in calm down its ok the baby is small yet I was almost 6 months big enough to move around all the way around,,,almost made me puke for real…..I was up all night,,,next day I go he puts his gloves on put up the sturups and I layed back and the baby moved again!!! half way back the other way this time!!! I know this is my first baby and I was scared this was not supposed to be like this,,,he said Kris ,,,calm down babies move all the time at this stage of pregnancy it will be ok I promise,,,give me a exray??? mno you dont need a exray we only do those near the end of pregnancy so we know where the baby is inside so if surgey comes up we have a current pic right before the birth,,,,,well he examined me and said her head was in position almost dont worry he or she will get intu posityion in time for birth dont worry dont worry its not good for either of you go for a walk get some exercixse and it will be fine….well then here come that cool september morn,,,,,I went to the hospital in labor early in case there was aproblem I just had this dread something wasnt right somehow,,,,I went in and labor started fast and swift every 15 minutes but her head felt like it was under my ribscage,I could feel her trying to get out,,,,,to no avail,,,well they finally took a exray and low and behold she is folded in half trying to get out butt first!!!! OMG OMGOMG!!!!! are you kidding me how are we fixing this ,,we will give you an injection to relax you and we will try and move the baby vaginally around to a better position for birth track,,,,, and they did try and turn her but was so painfull I would almost pass out and see stars and then it went black , and I would pass out slightly ,,,,,,she pushed her head under my ribs and her legs pushed out my side at the same time and she was tearing me inside,, and black and blue bruises everywhere inside me,,,,,,this went on till I had no energy left to push her or me,,,33 hours later they sent people in periodically to try and turn her and they put both hands up inside of me and try and turn her some possible to get her in a position to get out,they were worried by now that she was stuck in the birth canal and thats what happened and i was just exhausted I has truly given up and i knew if i did my baby would never have a chance,,,,after some more talking we deceided to do a c-section after 33 hours of contractions every 3-4 minutesand i could tell the baby was getting tired and her bp was slowing she was in trouble,,,so was I but was so outy of it by that time all icared about was her being born anyway they could get it done and i told them to bring me a paper and pen and a pastor for last rights for me,,,and maybe the baby too…. they also came in with my dr who said kris i think we are goinmg to stop your labor for a few give you a rest and then do a c-section and you can tell your family here with you and see what they think….I agreed to what ever they wanted the letter was for my daughter if I didnt make it.,,,, I wanted her to know I loved her and chose to do what I thought would be best for her and my husband……after all was written and signed and recorded and hugs and kisses all around we went for it.it was are only chance that we were all going to be ok out there……I asked to please be awake till she was born and I knew she made it so far,,,,,they gave me a block from chest down and that I gotta say was wonderfull it was the first time I had relaxed in 3 days straight,,,,,we went in the op room and the Dr said, hey Kris,,,, how you feeling? I said ,,,Iam getting ready to have a baby,,,how are you doing? ,,,, he laughted and said welll I am going to get you that baby we wre all gonna be fine ,,,all of us you just hang in there a few more minutes,,,,the block worked fast and he said welll roll over on your side a little bit so we dont get a chance of cutting the baby here,,,,,and he said ,,,can you feel anything?,,,,honestly? nope just pressure ,,, no pain,,,great that just what we want… If you start feeling pain you be sure and let us know right away ok??? Oh I think you are gonna know right away.,,,,I wanted to watch give me some mirrors please so ,,,,so he said oh sorry honey but we dont let the moms do that anymore because we used to and then the moms realized it was them they were watching get cut open and they freak out and then its a mess all around so we cant do that so ,,,I could see in the big lights above me a kinda rippley version of what they could see as the reflection of my stomach showed down on me from the light rim,,,,,,,,he says its a boy right? I said we chose not to know till birth time and he says well here we are what do you think it is? It a girl I said,,,I had that feeling from the get go it was a girl,,,he says oh no I think its a boy!,,,, and he said ,,,why is it a girl? I said I dont know ,,,,its what I asked for,,,a girl first then a boy next time,,,well he laughed and said we are about to find out soon as I flip it over,,,dead silence,,, he said you ready????? yes yes yes already tell me…..,Oh my goodness Its a girl!! just like you wanted,,I just started crying hysterically,,,,,,I was over the moon ,,,no kidding she was beautiful,,they layed her on my chest long enough for me to say hi baby girl and they wisked her away to clean her etc and sew me back up which added a nother 30 minutes to the c=section he said its easy getting to them fast really but then you have to sew everything back the way it was,,,,,, He said goodnight Kris see you in a little bit I want to put you to sleep while we do this part,,,no problem from me I was exhausted,totally! when I woke up I was still in the oproom darkened and sweet quiet music playing and i remember feeling sooooo warm they had me wrapped in and under heated blankets,,,that felt incredible to this day,,,,,,I looked around dr was right there writing on my chart and smileing hey there sleepy how you feel? great I said where is my baby. I expected her next to me in a bassenet but she was next to me in the same room but was over by the wall,,,no one showed her to you yet? I said just shortley well then we cant have that lety me go bring her closer,,,,,,,,,,Man oh Man,,,,,,,seeing her face for the first time and she seeing me was,,,,,just majical and incredible and really no word for it,,,,,,,blessed moment of all time in my life and untell that moment happens to you you will never understand it,,,,this little switch clicks inm your head and you just know your life has changed FOREVER!!! its wonderfull for sure,,,,thanks for reading this I have nothing but true awe for all of you who could do it vaginally,,if i could change one thing or two for sure now it would be that I could go back and redo my childrens births as a normal delivery after this darling little girl i became pregnant with my son ,,,Dylan Graham hospital did not allow you to have a vag birth after you had a c-section,,so any other births would have been c-sections too, I misscarried my last two pregnancys due in part to so much scar tissue built up from first two c-sections so I had have the rest that way or probably loose them later in the pregnany when it really would have left us and ,me mentally destroyed and i didint want that to happen, I deceide it would be better to have a tubiligation still a hard decesion to this day but we think we did the right thing,,,,,,,I feel blessed that we have two beautiful children and a great relationship that has taken us 47 years 48 in november,,,I couldnt have asked for anything else.
My daughter s name is Kimberly Chantel and my sons name is Dylan Graham after my Dad,,,,,, Thanks for taking the time to read my story and hopes it helps maybe put your births in perspective somehow,,,good luck with this and anyother births you may have in your life,God Bless you and Children are definately gifts from God! Love them long and hard PEACE! Kris
kris roldan
Thank you all for your pics and storys you helped me see and experience what I missed at my births they all all beautiful.
Alexis F
This is an AMAZING story! Way to go mama, I don’t know you, but I am very proud of you. So glad to hear you’re breastfeeding all of them as well. I vaginally & naturally birthed my twins (I did have Demerol, but pretty sure it didn’t help much), one was breach though. And they are breastfeeding as well. They had formula for almost 24 hours, but caught on to breastfeeding soon enough. Keep up the amazing job raising your 6 beautiful children!
Vikki
Wow, what an amazing story! I am so happy for you and your beautiful family. xxx
Emily
Thank you so much for sharing your amazing experience!! If more women were as strong, educated, and determined as you are, this world would be such a better place! Women really need to feel empowered during their pregnancy, not belittled and terrified! You are an inspiration. Keep up the good work and congratulations!
Ravyn
So incredibly beautiful!!!
Cherry
OK, this is the most amazing thing. Seriously love this story! I am proud of you and I don’t even know you : ) Beautiful little children!
Yulanda
Wonderful story! I am glad you stuck to your convictions.
kristy
What an amazing woman u are!!! congrats on a beautiful family.
Yayoi
Your story is so inspirational and you have six beautiful children to show for it.
Thank you for taking those doctors down a peg or two. I laughed out loud when I read how your waters
burst over the doc coming to break them, wonderful!
Jessica White
Congratulations and good for you! I had my triplets vaginally at 34 weeks, no complications and no bed rest much to the chagrin of the entire high risk practice I was a patient at. Those 3 littles turn 3 on Monday 12/22. To look at them now I would never guess they were preemies or triplets (weighed 5lbs 3 ounces,4lbs 13 ounces and 4lbs 10 ounces.
I’m so glad that I didn’t listen to my doctors because they were wrong, and I’m so grateful to have had the one doctor who was comfortable delivering triplets naturally on call when my water broke.
Jamie
Your story is so inspiring! I just found out yesterday I’m pregnant with twins. I have a three year old son who I birthed naturally and beautifully. That experience meant so much to me and when I heard “twins” I immediately feared I wouldn’t be able to give them the same start I gave my son. Thank you for sharing your story! I’m certain if you can naturally deliver triplets, I can bring my twins into this world just as safely! Do you have any other advice on how to get as far into a pregnancy as possible with multiples? I’ve read a bit about diet and activity, which all makes perfect sense! Anything else you can offer? Thank you again. I will sleep much better tonight!
Aujarae
Ugh love this! Love your determination! Truly inspired!!
(Future doula/midwife) ♡
kathy
hi there
just to say I had triplets in 1991 (23 now!) and i had them naturally, except for an epidural!
grace 5lb 31/2 oz
michael 6lb 2 0z
rose 5lb 30z
beautiful and perfect!
love kathy xx
T
Such a great story. Thanks for sharing your experience.
vanessa nakibuule
indeed you are blessed . been trying for four years now but in vain… i pray that the lord who gave you all those beautful children to also do it for me. amen
ANN
Hi , i love your story
Joanna
What an amazing story. I’m due with twins in a few weeks and because our baby A is breech currently, I feel like c-section is being shoved down my throat. It’s giving me a lot of anxiety but your story is really inspiring!
phathu
you are an amazing woman and i really look up to you. i hope all your kids are doing well and u are also well… i have twins and it was a hard job raising them but looking at the good work that you did really inspires me. thank you!!
Beatrice
Amazing and Powerful Story. I admire your convictions, and I am encouraged. God Bless your beautiful family.
lorene
you go girl 🙂 the more the merrier. best of luck to you & your’s.
Nella
You are absolutely AMAZING!!!!!!!!! The mind is such a powerful thing, when we put our minds to something it truly can be done.
Jana
What an amazing story and incredible strenght of Mum! That is great to listen to own mother´s intuition and act on that :). Congrats. ♥
Jennifer
Absolutely amazing, beautiful, loving story! Such an inspiration! Congrats to you snd your family on your baby girls!
Hilary Pengelly
Thank you for sharing your truly inspirational birth story – I am in awe of your strength, courage and determination – of your pure, unshakable belief in your body achieving a physiological birth for your triplets…I love the picture of you breastfeeding your three beautiful daughters – that photo is pure gold! I am sure your partner is pretty amazing too, but you sure are one awesome woman and mother to your six children – they are all very lucky to have you! Wow!!!
M WALDEN
oh…my….GOSH!!! MAMMA YOURE A ROCK STAR. truly this is one of the best birth stories I’ve ever read. and I real lots. Im an L&D nurse, lactation consultant, prenatal educator, etc…. so I talk this same talk, you can do it you can do it you can do it. But….wow! this is amazing. especially the pics with the 3 lttle boys holding the 3 little girls. Love it. Thanks so much for sharing your inspiring story, hope you don’t mind if I share it all over the place. God Bless all of you!
Janet Naylor
Absolutely brilliant! Well done, such an inspiration and so intuitive to really TRUST your body and have the strength and confidence to do what you did ! Thank you so much for sharing your story, hope this goes viral. Huge congratulations and welcome to your 3 precious princesses…..Also well done on the exclusive breastfeeding. I admire your determination ! Enjoy your lovely family. Janet, UK.
Laura Jones
just wow!!!! Thanks so much sharing your brave and inspiring story.
Kirsty
Your story made me cry. You are simply amazing!!!
Sandra
OMG! That is soooo impressive! Wow! Congratulations! And I am worried about my only child and exhausted, but just having 1 baby! How do you feel? Just amazing!!!
Dianna
Aw3some, you go! With my single baby they always asked read to be induced if u keep waiting this and that csn hapoen. My doula was awesome and helped me through those bullies. 42 weeks and 2 days later with induction not pitocon bit something else I had her in 45 minutes WITHOUT MEDOCATION ALL NATURAL! my doctor told me as he brought my child out “ypu got what younwanted $” and no one but one nurse in that whole darn hospital knew what a birth plan was but we did and it educated them and we followed it as much s possible…. NO FEAR, HAVE BIRTHPLAN, NO MORE BULLYING!…..
Angela
Thank you for sharing your birth story and photos of your family. I was moved to tears! Your children are incredibly blessed to have such a courageous and caring mother. What an example to other women and mothers out there: stay strong in your convictions and believe in yourself, no matter what others (even the “experts”) say.
Kristen Allen
Hi,
Your story is so inspiring. I saw you EBF your triplets. I’m a BFing peer supporter who has the opportunity to support a lady who wants to BF her triplets. If you have any tips I would be so appreciative!
Thank you.
Thais
Thanks to share your beautiful history.
That is the more beautiful history about pregnancy I had heard in all my life.You are exemple for all womens want to get à natural birth and breast feed their baby.
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