In October 2005, my husband and I were so excited to find out I was pregnant. After two previous miscarriages, the doctor sent me for my first ultrasound at seven weeks. To our surprise we found out that we were expecting twins. This wasn’t too much of a shock since we already have four year old fraternal twins girls and were told our chances of having twins again were quite high.
My doctor then sent us for another ultrasound and we got another shock. I was twelve weeks pregnant and the radiologist started to do the ultrasound and couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She had told us that she had never seen this before and was in total shock. I was scared at this point because of our previous miscarriages so I asked if everything was okay with the two babies. She said they were fine but there are actually three babies. We were having triplets!
Baby B had been hiding on the first ultrasound. We found out that Baby A and Baby B were in the same sack, which meant they were identical and Baby C was in its own sack which meant that he/she was fraternal. We were so excited. We always wanted a big family but couldn’t believe it was happening with just two pregnancies and no fertility drugs. When I went to see my doctor, he said I would be going for ultrasounds every two to four weeks because of the high risk factor with carrying triplets.
At sixteen weeks we went for another ultrasound and everything seemed to being okay. Baby A was slightly bigger than Baby B so they were a little concerned about (Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome) TTTS. Baby C was right on schedule. They told us they would watch this [TTTS] and there were procedures they could do if need be. The doctor did not seem too worried about it and said to come back for another ultrasound in four weeks.
At twenty weeks we went for another ultrasound and had another shock. The doctor came in, put his hand on my knee and said there is no easy way to tell you this but Baby A and Baby B had passed away but Baby C was doing fine. They figured it had just happened within the last three to five days and there was really nothing they could have done. They told us that Baby A was taking from Baby B which is called TTTS. It was so hard to believe that this was really happening. On the ultrasound they looked fine, they were two fully formed little babies but their little hearts just stopped working. We were devastated. It was so hard first we were told twins, then triplets and now we only have one. We know we have to stay positive for the little guy that is staying so strong for us but it is so difficult after losing multiples already. The doctors told us the Baby C is oblivious to what was going on and expect him/her to go to full term or close to it.
I didn’t want to know what I was having when I found out I was having triplets but after finding out this terrible news I needed to hear something positive so we found out that Baby C is a boy. We didn’t care whether it was a boy or a girl, we just needed some happy news. I am now 26 weeks pregnant and Baby C is still doing well. They were worried about me going into pre term labor but so far so good. I have days where I don’t want to get out of bed but have to be strong for my two little girls and my beautiful baby growing inside. We have good days and bad days but reading other peoples stories have really helped me to stay strong for my little boy who is truly a blessing. If we had not found out we were having triplets and just twins we would not have a baby right now that is developing so well and doing great. God has given us five precious gifts.
My two angels are in heaven now looking down watching over us. My two four year old girls are amazing and cannot wait to meet their new little brother, whom should be arriving in June 2006.
Rhonda (Edmonton, AB)
Jumelle: Prenatal, Postnatal & Beyond 