Triple trouble

Finding out that I was pregnant was a surprise to say the least. My husband, Blaine and I had discussed maybe thinking about starting a family next year. I was in the process of applying for new jobs in to senior leadership and he was happy coasting along as a 45 year old without any major responsibilities except washing up before he was asked.

In the first few days I went in to shock, mind, body and soul- completely.  I wouldn’t be able to continue applying for jobs. My career would have to go on hold. We would have to rethink our entire lifestyle. Too many questions, too many things to think about all at once… How did this happen? When did this happen? Were we drunk? What would we do? There was no question about keeping the baby, how ever we felt initially, we knew we would get used to the idea and all would be fine and amazing; and that’s what happened. Blaine became unusually practical, organised and his skills at forward planning were news to me.

As with everyone having a baby, we looked forward to our first scan and were excited about being able to see our baby and maybe listen to its heart beat. Family and friends were all excited for us and teased me constantly about how it must be me having twins because there were two sets in the family already and they are supposed to jump a generation but non of my cousins had had twins, oh! the hilarity! Twins ey? I would be mortified if it was twins. The thought of coping with two babies filled me with terror. Pah – erase that thought, it would be o.k. I wasn’t going to listen to anyone, there was one baby and that’s it! The appointment seemed to take forever to come around and then the day arrived; nothing could have prepared me for the news we were about to receive.

I laid myself on the bed, got myself comfortable and relaxed, holding Blaine’s hand and grinning like a Cheshire cat. The very first question the midwife asked me was,

‘have you been having fertility treatment?’

‘What!? No, why is it twins?’ All colour drained from my face, my grin disappeared and my worst nightmare began to become a reality. It was when she said there were three babies popping in and out of view that I went numb. Blaine can’t forget the expression on my face. He said it was void of any emotion and then the tears came. A million emotions came over me at the same time. I couldn’t understand how this was possible. I looked at Blaine and he was thrilled and shocked with a bit of crying in between. It didn’t take long to begin to feel the exhilaration. When I saw three tiny heads and bodies and realised they were in me, that we had created them, and I had been carrying all of them for thirteen weeks I felt so proud.

I still feel proud but also truly blessed. We have had some very serious conversations with our obstetrician about the risks and what could happen if things turn for the worse, but I can’t help putting those to the back of my mind and reveling in the joy of our three babies. We have since found out how special we are because we have created triplets without fertility treatment and how rare they are because they have formed form two eggs. Two babies share the same placenta and will be identical and one has his very own. I’m a two bedroom house, and I will be the size of a house, possibly the size of a stately home but hey, so long as Millets keep making tents for ten men I’ll be fine. We have to go for regular scans and I have to take extra special care of the four of us but we have an amazing support system between our family, friends and the medical team looking after us. We have been overwhelmed with the response from them and we have become minor celebrities. My poor dad has lost the power of speech  (that could be a blessing in itself). He said he was still in shock from when I originally told him I was pregnant and that I must be trying to give him a heart attack. He doesn’t realise I’m just after my inheritance early – I’ve got to pay for extra nappies some how!