Many say having children is one of the best things that could happen to someone. Kids bring their families a lot of love and life with their youthful innocence and playfulness. Most parents think it is ideal to have at least one son and one daughter. “The more the merrier,” right? Well, for many years, this pair of parents had been trying for a baby girl and finally, they got pregnant with one. However, the couple was in for a surprise.
For most moms with two boys, it is only natural to desire to enlarge their clan with a baby girl. Bye, bye blue and grey, hello pink and purple! Happily married California couple, Angie and Gino, were blessed with two amazing boys. Watching the kids grow up and reaching milestones made the parents wish they could raise more than just two! If they could handle two rambunctious boys, what’s stopping them from being able to raise a girl? Bring on ballet and gymnastics, dress-up and tea parties! But, we can’t be too picky of course, we have to be happy with what we are given; a healthy baby, boy or girl, is a blessing. Many women face infertility issues, a very hard thing to deal with when everywhere you look, friends, family, they all seem to be popping kids out left and right. I mean, look at the Duggar family for gosh sakes! Angie and Gino, along with their two sons, were very excited to hear the news that a new addition to the family was on the way. They sectioned off a room in the house as the nursery, decorating it, buying clothes and toys for the baby-on-the-way, giddy with happiness and excitement. Everyone in the family counting down the days Angie will give birth. Little did they know what was to come.
Preparing For The Big Day
The birth of a baby can be quite exciting for couples. Parents usually feel a sense of excitement with a sort of nervousness as the moment of welcoming their baby draws nearer. At the Sharp Memorial Hospital, which is located in San Diego, California, the last couple of days for one family had been all about prepping for a wonderful and precious moment. The whole family was making sure they were ready for this. There were bags to be packed, people to notify, and a lot of emotions to work through as you become new parents. It does not matter if it is the first time you are having a child or the fifth, it is emotional and nerve wrecking as if the first time.
There are always risks when delivering a baby and this couple wished for one for so long that it was that much more emotional for them when the time came to go to the hospital. As you can see here, the couple is checked into the hospital and hooked up to the machines for the mom to take care before delivering. This is the moment of truth and this couple was going in for the third time, after two healthy boys. They were hoping for another healthy baby, this time for a girl but they were about to learn something all too different about his little bundle of joy, and it was the doctor who was going to break the news...
A Cause For Celebration
After Angie and Gino found out that they were expecting, the couple was extremely excited to have another addition to their growing family. The expectant parents were greatly pleased to learn that they would finally be having a girl because they had always dreamed of having one. When the doctors gave them the wonderful news, Angie and Gino were already really happy since it was like a realization of their dreams.
Many couples wish for another gender when having more than one of the same, and this couple was no different. This was a very exciting time for them.
Two Boys
Gino and Angie had already been married for a while when they decided it was the right time to grow their family. The couple followed through on their decision by welcoming two boys to the world. The couple knew that having two healthy sons was truly a blessing, but deep down Angie and Gino felt like their family was still missing something.
What was the couple still longing for? We will give you a few guesses but we are pretty sure you already know what these two wanted to complete their family...
Another On The Way
Angie and Gino still wanted more kids since the couple felt that they could handle having more children. The two were rather effortless as parents. They were able to properly look after their two sons. They were an amazing team together and wanted to share this world with another child.
They loved being parents and wanted to make their family that much bigger and more joyful. Parenting came natural for the two and it was such a happy time for them as they were watching their sons grow up so beautifully.
Wanting More
The couple was confident that they would be able to handle more, so they were extremely delighted to find out that Angie was carrying a child once again. The news was music to the expectant parents’ ears. The two expectant parents again were so happy to learn that they were pregnant and that everything was going smoothly.
They could not wait to meet their new child and see how they would grow up with them. Every one of their kids has such a distinct personality that it was such a wonder to see.
A Surprising Discovery
When the couple discovered that Angie was expecting, they wasted no time in going for a health check-up. When it came to the health of both Angie and the baby, the couple did not want to take any risks.
As soon as they found out that they were expecting another child, they scheduled an appointment with the doctor to make sure everything was going as it should and that the baby and mom were as healthy as can be, this was obviously the most important thing.
Early Weeks
During the early weeks of Angie’s pregnancy, it was confirmed by the doctors that the progress she had was healthy. One day, however, after she went for a routine check-up, the doctors had one more thing to say.
There is a lot of nerves around growing a child and making sure that everything is okay with both you and the baby, so when the doctor stops and wants to give you even more information, it makes anyone a little nervous.
In Need Of Specialist Care
When they went to see their doctor that day, Angie and Gino expected things to go smoothly just like on other days. However, their doctor, Sean Daneshmand, told them that Angie needed specialist care, so the couple got quite alarmed.
This is not what you want to hear when you go for a checkup to make sure everything is okay, a specialist means that there is something outside of the normal and that special attention is necessary. Angie was anxious about what this all meant.
Staying Calm
They had a lot of questions in their minds. Was there anything wrong? Why was there a need for Angie to see a specialist? Although they tried not to worry, the couple could not help feeling a bit alarmed and anxious.
This is one of the hardest moments in an expectant parents life, not knowing what could possibly be wrong and needing to have more testing done before calming down and making a game plan as much as possible depending on the results.
A Precautionary Measure
The couple became quite nervous since they were scared that they were in for some bad news. However, when they asked the doctor why Angie had to see another doctor, he gave a simple answer. The doctor, as part of his job, is to calm down the patient and explain what the testing that will be done and what it all means.
A lot of the time patients get very anxious until they get an explanation as everything seems overwhelming, this is exactly what Angie's doctor was trying to do.
Reassuring Answer
The doctor told them, “Unfortunately, at 26 and a half weeks, all of a sudden there was a fluid discrepancy,” the doctor explained to everyone later when he was asked about his reason for referring Angie to a specialist.
The parents were worried that something serious was happening to their baby and the mom and so they needed the doctor to explain what was happening and what it all meant for them. This was terrifying for the parents to be.
Staying At The Hospital
Because a pregnant woman needs to be well taken care of and protected, their doctor did not take any risks when it came to Angie’s health. He mentioned that he had spoken to her and said “Angie, we belong in the hospital now”. Angie and Gino had no hesitation in following the doctor’s orders.
The couple made their way to the hospital in order to ensure that both Angie and the baby were safe. This was the case of playing it safe and nothing was going to change their mind.
Continuous Care
The doctors explained to Angie and Gino that the primary reason why she needed extra attention was because of the fact that Angie’s pregnancy was considered to be high-risk.
High-risk pregnancies can be for a number of reasons, the most basic of one is when the mother is over the age of 35 or if she has a history of blood clots and the like. There are many elements to a pregnancy and this was just one of them.
Taking Precautions
This means that Angie could develop complications which could affect not only her health but also the health of her baby. The doctors informed her that she would be needing care round the clock to ensure she was fine.
This was the beginning of the delivery of sorts for Angie, who had to remain on bed rest and take special precautions for her and her unborn child in order to make it safely to the delivery room. It was not an easy time.
More Than One
If you are confused about why the doctors were all of a sudden being really fussy about Angie’s pregnancy, there is a good explanation for it. It was due to the fact that she was not only expecting one baby.
This was huge news and an even bigger announcement for the parents who did not know what to think. This is another "side effect" of pregnancy over the age of 35, having multiple births. This was not what they expected at all.
The More The Merrier
Angie was pregnant with three. Just imagine she needed to carry three babies at once! It was certainly right for the doctors to want to ensure everything was fine. It was a daunting set of news on the parents who were not prepared at all for the news and for the life with SIX children instead of three.
This is the kind of change that would mean that they would need a lot of help in the first few months, but first to make sure Angie was okay.
Happy To Be Expecting Three
The pregnancy was quite unique for Angie. However, as you may have already guessed, after learning that they were having triplets, Angie and Gino could not be more ecstatic. Because the couple wanted to grow their family even more, it was not bad news to find out that they would be having three more kids on their hands.
After the initial shock, these two became as happy as can be at the thought of growing their family so much so fast! This was nothing short than a blessing in their eyes.
Cause For Concern
However, there was an issue with her pregnancy with the triplets. As for two of the babies in Angie’s womb, they were sharing one placenta. That is high risk as there is a lot that can go wrong with three fetuses and one placenta.
The list of risks went on and on and made Angie even more anxious about this pregnancy. Everything was said to be okay but she needed to listen to the doctors and make sure to follow their direction.
Concern Over Size
The fact that there was only one placenta for two babies was not really a major problem, but it certainly had its disadvantages for three babies. The size of one baby was going to be hampered and it would not get to be the same size as the other babies in Angie’s belly.
Nevertheless, there were a lot of other possible complications which were listed, which this problem paled in comparison with. Angie was always worried but was trying to make the best of this situation.
Serious Potential Complications
During Angie’s pregnancy, the problems that arose were quite serious. For one, there was a high probability that the babies would be born prematurely. That is common with more than one baby as there is less room and therefore smaller babies born as a result.
The doctors and hospitals are prepared for these births and so there was little cause for concern on that regard. Angie would need to remain close to the hospital in the case of an early birth which was sure to happen.
Stress Is Not Healthy
Not to mention, it was possible for the triplets to have underdeveloped lungs or suffer from brain bleeds. Also, some problems could follow the little ones even after birth. Thus, they had to be extremely careful. The babies are sure to be smaller but everyone wanted to have them develop correctly and fully so that the risk for the babies would be smaller. So many developmental pieces needed to come into play and the longer they were in the belly the better.
The health of her three babies was at stake. The doctor was right about Angie needing a specialist for her care to ensure that things went smoothly in her pregnancy. However, needless to say, this revelation made her pregnancy one of the couple’s most stressful periods. Because it is not healthy for pregnant women to have stress and tension, the medical team did everything they could to ease Angie’s tensions.
The Need For Hospital Admission
As time passed, Angie was already in her 27th week of pregnancy. Her belly was getting very big and by then, Angie had to be admitted in a hospital to ensure her pregnancy was healthy. She had to be far from her family but she had no choice.
Despite this, she pressed on and did the only thing she could do at the time – focus on the babies she was carrying. This was the hardest part for her, there was nothing for her to do but try her best to remain calm.
Anything Could Happen
As Angie’s pregnancy progressed and as she found out things from her doctors, she went through a significant amount of stress. Even though Angie knew that she needed to stay calm and relaxed, she still found it harder than she thought it would be.
“Anything could happen between now and my due date,” she expressed. Carrying one baby is already stressful for some, so just imagine what it’s like to be pregnant with three.
Unfortunate Loss
Her nervousness was beginning to grow more and more as Angie thought about what the future had in store for her and her babies. “We hear a lot of stories,” she said to interviewers when she talked about the time she was in the hospital.
There were those they met who ended up telling them their sad stories about how they lost babies in these cases. Angie was counting her blessings that nothing like that had happened yet to them and hopefully would not.
Welcoming Three Babies Or Not
Angie had the feeling that she might not get to welcome all of the babies she was supposed to give birth to. She went on to say, “You know of triplets that don’t make it. Especially the identical twins.
The body absorbs one of them.” The stories kept on coming in and it was making Angie more and more anxious but she knew she needed to just continue on her path and think positively about her children.
Everybody Needs Empathy
In regards to mothers like Angie, Sharp Memorial Hospital Perinatal Special Care Unit’s Toni Hicks explained that empathy is the most important tool. In her many years working there, she has observed that expectant mothers who are confronted by complications just need other people to give them some motivation and to help them stay positive.
Nurses make all the difference for those who are there in their care and help them remain calm and on the path towards their medical goal.
Someone To Be There
Toni further explained the sort of approach that she uses when she cares for expectant mothers at the hospital by saying, “They’re taken away from everything that’s normal. So by telling them, you know, ‘I understand this is really hard for you,’ that’s huge for patients.”
Toni wants everyone to be aware of the fact that these pregnant women just need someone who will listen to them or who will lend a shoulder for them to cry on.
Not The First Time
Angie’s pregnancy may be a special case, but it is definitely not the first. Many women before her have gotten pregnant and carried three babies in their belly at once. These women gave birth to triplets, a specific medical team that deals with such cases.
The babies are referred to as A, B, and C. Expectant parents Gino and Angie could only hope the babies come out healthy. There is nothing more that they could do at this point.
Concerns Over One Baby
As time passed by, the couple found out that not enough fluid was getting to Baby B. Needless to say, the baby was affected by this situation. The baby ended up becoming a little smaller compared to the other two.
This was a common occurrence with multiple fetuses but it is no less difficult for the parent to handle. There were some medical interventions that could take place and the doctor's needed to do them now.
Waiting And Hoping
However, the only thing Angie and Gino could do was to wait and see what the outcome would be for Baby B. The couple hoped and prayed they would be welcoming all three babies into the world.
The risks were high but the reward was even better if the babies were healthy and out of Angie. There was still some time before the babies were to be born so there was more time to be nervous still.
32nd Week Of Pregnancy
The doctors wanted to minimize the risks as much as they could, so they kept a careful watch on Angie. They paid close attention to her until her 32nd week of pregnancy.
They also wanted to see all three of the babies as much as everybody else in the babies’ family. The doctors were so involved with Angie’s pregnancy, they felt they had to do everything possible. So, what would happen to the babies?
Just As Planned
After everything possible was done to help keep her pregnancy healthy, Angie went into labor just one day after her 32nd week of pregnancy. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
She was so happy to have kept her babies in for as long as she could and it was enough for the babies to be fully developed and the labor process to start with a sigh of relief as we mentioned before. Angie was about to do some hard work.
Going Into Labor
This meant that Angie had successfully carried the babies with no further complications. Everybody was really happy to learn that everything turned out just as planned. So, she made it to labor, but would her delivery go smoothly?
Angie was nervous as is every expectant mother, but especially of three children at a time. This was showtime and it was Angie's turn to make sure that her babies were coming out safe and sound.
A Different Approach
Even though it is often suggested that childbirth should be done naturally, a different approach was necessary for Angie’s situation. Since the doctors wanted the delivery to be kept under control, they had Angie undergo a cesarean section.
There were too many babies and not enough time for a regular birth, a c-section was necessary to get the babies out fast and make sure they were all okay and as they should be out of her belly.
Confession Of A Mom
“As soon as I see them I just want to touch them or give them a kiss…to make sure they’re okay,” the expectant mother confessed. No one can blame her, though. Angie had to be away from her husband and sons during her admission to the hospital to make sure that her health and the babies’ were not compromised.
To put it simply, it had certainly been quite an adventure. This was a huge step in the right direction for this family.
The Birth Of The Babies
Angie and husband Gino had had quite a rollercoaster ride throughout the pregnancy. The couple had been really happy to find out about her pregnancy but were soon devastated upon learning of the possible complications. However, in the end, the delivery of Angie’s babies was a success.
All three newborns were transferred to their individual team for advanced life support by the midwifery team. This was the beginning of another step in the process of being born as a triplet.
Initial Check
The moment each baby was delivered, the doctor examined them carefully to ensure the newborns did not show signs of health problems. The doctors then went on to assist the babies in their breathing, making sure the newborns were stabilized.
When all of the necessary steps had been carried out, the triplets were transferred to the intensive care unit for neonates.
A Little More Effort
The doctors were careful not to make any mistake when they treated the babies. The doctors revealed that they had needed to put a bit more effort into opening the triplets’ little lungs and that it had been difficult to do so.
As the doctors were doing this, Angie and Gino were helpless. There were tears in the eyes of the babies’ parents as they looked on from the other side of the room.
Thank You To The Doctors
Gino and Angie were saying prayers as the doctors did all they could to ensure the triplets were well. The couple’s prayers were answered. All three babies turned out fine.
Because of the doctors and the effort they put in, the couples’ little girls – Camilla, Anabella, and Daniella were stable. They were then ready to be transferred to intensive care.
Not Completely Out Of Danger
Even if everyone was relieved to find out that all of the triplets were stable, there was still a need to check some other things. “We still have to remember these babies are small and are predisposed to other complications,” explained their doctor.
Because the babies were born together, each one had to be handled carefully and the doctors still needed to keep a close eye on the newborns. They were not out of the woods yet.
A Successful Outcome
“And, again, long-term issues. But, so far, we’re excited that everything has turned out very well,” Dr. Daneshmand said during an interview.
Parents Angie and Gino were finally able to breathe a little because their biggest fear – that the triplets would not be born healthy – did not come true. The couple and the doctors had worked together and got a successful outcome, so, needless to say, there is reason to celebrate.
Meeting For The First Time
Once Angie had gotten some rest, she was ready to meet her newborn babies. Gino helped Angie see them by wheeling her up to the neonatal unit, where the babies were kept under close monitoring to ensure nothing else would go wrong.
They needed a lot of time with their mom and dad, a lot of skin to skin contact and just rest to grow and gain as much strength as they could.
At Last
After a difficult pregnancy and much anxiety, the two could greet their new babies. The proud parents were finally able to get the chance to see their babies and interact with their little girls closely and intimately.
Angie had longed for a daughter for the longest time, so she felt really accomplished to have finally given birth to her little girls. Just like what she had said before the delivery, she carried one baby in her arms and brought the baby near her chest as she simply whispered, “It feels so right.” Because Angie had to wait for quite a long time, the moment was definitely an emotional one for her. She had tears falling while she cradled her newborn.
The Challenges Of Pregnancy
Pregnancy is not at all an easy experience. A woman has to be very strong both physically and mentally and capable to give birth successfully.
Pregnancy can be draining psychologically and a huge task physically. Angie had endured all of the difficulties her pregnancy brought and has finally gained freedom from them. She later talked about the things that went through her mind once everything was done.
A Special Moment
Angie was not the only one who was drained by this experience. Even though Gino had been excited to learn that he and Angie would be having triplets, he was still equally stressed out when he found out about the complications his wife went through. However, when he met his baby daughter Anabella and saw her open her baby eyes, he felt the moment was truly special.
“I was only a few hours apart from them, but I really missed them,” she later admitted to the interviewer. Angie revealed how attached she had already become to her babies and concluded that seeing them again brought her a lot of happiness. “…it feels good to be reunited,” she said.
Dad’s Reaction
“Beautiful,” he said, “Beautiful feeling.” At last, he could relax and enjoy taking on the new role of being the father to his baby girls. Gino was really happy to have his new daughter in his arms and felt like what he was seeing was a dream.
As her dad, the two had an instant connection the first time he held the newborn. This was the moment Dino was waiting for and it was finally here.
Definitely A Team Effort
Things would have been impossible if the hospital’s entire midwife team had not put in the effort and work that they had. The Sharp Memorial Hospital team deserves all the credit for the triplets’ successful birth because the situation could have ended in an entirely different scenario.
This is the happy ending everyone was hoping for and that this couple deserved above all. These sweet little babies are going to grow up in a loving home and it is so sweet to see!