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, Katie and Angelo, 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!
Katie and Angelo, 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 Katie 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.
A Cause For Celebration
After Katie and Angelo 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, Katie and Angelo were already really happy since it was like a realization of their dreams.
Two Boys
Katie and Angelo 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 Katie and Angelo felt like their family was still missing something. What was the couple still longing for?
Another On The Way
Katie and Angelo 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.
The more the merrier for this family of loving parents!
Wanting More
The couple was confident that they would be able to handle more, so they were extremely delighted to find out that Katie was carrying a child once again. The news was music to the expectant parents’ ears.
They were so happy to hear the news of their growing family.
A Surprising Discovery
When the couple discovered that Katie was expecting, they wasted no time in going for a health check-up. When it came to the health of both Katie and the baby, the couple didn’t want to take any risks.
There are many ways that this could go poorly so it was important to make sure that they are all healthy.
Early Weeks
During the early weeks of Katie'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.
This was the moment that changed their lives forever.
In Need Of Specialist Care
When they went to see their doctor that day, Katie and Angelo expected things to go smoothly just like on other days. However, their doctor, Sean Daneshmand, told them that Katie needed specialist care, so the couple got quite alarmed.
This is not what a couple wants to hear when they walk into their doctor's office.
Staying Calm
They had a lot of questions in their minds. Was there anything wrong? Why was there a need for Katie to see a specialist? Although they tried not to worry, the couple could not help feeling a bit alarmed and anxious.
There is little in the control of the parents at this point in time.
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.
And this was the answer that they did not see coming but were stunned to learn.
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 Katie's health. He mentioned that he had spoken to her and said “Katie, we belong in the hospital now.”
Katie and Angelo had no hesitation in following the doctor’s orders. The couple made their way to the hospital in order to ensure that both Katie and the baby were safe.
Continuous Care
The doctors explained to Angie and Gino that the primary reason why she needed extra attention was because of the fact that Katie's pregnancy was considered to be high-risk.
High risk pregnancies can harm the baby as well as the mother so they need to be carefully monitored.
Taking Precautions
This means that Katie 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 is not what a mother wants to hear when she is uncomfortably pregnant...
More Than One
If you are confused about why the doctors were all of a sudden being really fussy about Katie's pregnancy, there is a good explanation for it. It was due to the fact that she was not only expecting one baby.
Let us repeat that again, she was expecting more than one child!
The More The Merrier
Katie 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.
Not one, not two, but three babies in her belly. This was overwhelming and also quite dangerous.
Happy To Be Expecting Three
The pregnancy was quite unique for Katie. However, as you may have already guessed, after learning that they were having triplets, Katie and Angelo could not be more ecstatic.
Because the couple wanted to grow their family even more, it wasn’t bad news to find out that they would be having three more kids on their hands.
Cause For Concern
However, there was an issue with her pregnancy with the triplets. As for two of the babies in Katie's womb, they were sharing one placenta.
This kind of situation is very rare yet very complicated should it not go monitored.
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 the babies.
The size of one baby was going to be hampered and it wouldn’t get to be the same size as the other babies in Katie's belly. Nevertheless, there were a lot of other possible complications that were listed, which this problem paled in comparison with.
Serious Potential Complications
During Katie's pregnancy, the problems that arose were quite serious. For one, there was a high probability that the babies would be born prematurely.
This is common with twins as well, but when it comes to three, it makes it that much more of a risk of an early delivery.
Aware Of The Possibilities
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. It was because of this that they had to be extremely careful.
This was a stressful time for the couple, who needed to maintain composure and remember that health is the most important thing.
Stress Is Not Healthy
The health of her three babies was at stake. The doctor was right about Katie 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 Katie's anxiety.
The Need For Hospital Admission
As time passed, Katie was already in her 27th week of pregnancy. Her belly was getting very big and by then, Katie had to be admitted to 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.
Many Different Possibilities
As Katie's pregnancy progressed and as she found out things from her doctors, she went through a significant amount of stress.
Even though she knew that she needed to stay calm and relaxed, she still found it harder than she thought it would be.
Anything Could Happen
“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.
The ultrasounds that she kept getting were showing a steady growth for the babies, so it was somewhat calming.
Unfortunate Loss
Her nervousness was beginning to grow more and more as Katie 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.
It was hard for them to close their ears to the terrible stories that they heard that could happen.
Hearing Horror Stories
She tried not to let it affect her, but Katie was troubled by the things that had reached her about complications and failed pregnancies. She could not stop her nerves from getting to her.
This was not what needed to happen and the doctors did not want the mother to feel stressed as it would do the opposite effect.
Welcoming Three Babies Or Not
Katie 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.”
Stories like that kept her up at night, another thing that did not help the situation.
Fearful Mom
Was this just nerves or foreshadowing? Was Katie foretelling the outcome of her pregnancy or would she have a different fate and be among the lucky moms who had successful pregnancies?
All she could do was think positive thoughts and be hopeful that she was one of the lucky ones.
Everybody Needs Empathy
In regards to mothers like Katie, Sharp Memorial Hospital Perinatal Special Care Unit’s Angela Watson 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.
Someone To Be There
Angela 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.”
Angela 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
Katie'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, with a specific medical team that deals with such cases. The babies are referred to as A, B, and C. Expectant parents Angelo and Katie could only hope the babies came out healthy.
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.
Waiting And Hoping
However, the only thing Katie and Angelo 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.
This was the hardest time for them as there was nothing they could do but wait.
32nd Week Of Pregnancy
The doctors wanted to minimize the risks as much as they could, so they kept a careful watch on Katie. 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 Katie'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, Katie went into labor just one day after her 32nd week of pregnancy. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
This was the time that made sense for her to go into labor and put the three in as little risk as possible.
Going Into Labor
This meant that Katie 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?
A Different Approach
Even though it is often suggested that childbirth should be done naturally, a different approach was necessary for Katie's situation.
Since the doctors wanted the delivery to be kept under control, they had her undergo a cesarean section.
Ready For Her Babies
Since there had been a long and, quite frankly, very complicated waiting period for the arrival of the babies, Katie could not help but look forward to giving birth.
She wanted to hold her little girls in her arms and know that they are safe and thriving.
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.
Katie 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.
The Birth Of The Babies
Katie and her husband Angelo 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 Katie's babies was a success. All three newborns were transferred to their individual team for advanced life support by the midwifery team.
Essential 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.
Initial Check
When all of the necessary steps had been carried out, the triplets were transferred to the intensive care unit for neonates.
Mom was now able to recover as well, and the babies were being watched and taken care of by the team in the hospital.
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, Katie and Angelo were helpless. There were tears in the eyes of the babies’ parents as they looked on from the other side of the room.
Their Condition Was Stable
Angelo and Katie 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.
Thank You To The Doctors
Because of the doctors and the effort they put in, the couples’ little girls – Trish, Danielle, and Rebecca were stable. They were then ready to be transferred to intensive care.
This is where the kids are reunited with their mom and dad and they can spend their time together learning to get to know each other.
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.
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 Katie and Angelo 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 Katie had gotten some rest, she was ready to meet her newborn babies.
Angelo helped Katie 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.
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.
The Long Wait Is Over
Katie 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 Katie 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.
A lot of things can go wrong, but this was a case where everything turned out okay.
Sharing Her Experience
Pregnancy can be draining psychologically and a huge task physically. Katie 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.
Already Attached To The Little Ones
“I was only a few hours apart from them, but I really missed them,” she later admitted to the interviewer. Katie 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.
A Special Moment
Katie was not the only one who was drained by this experience. Even though Angelo had been excited to learn that he and Katie 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 Trisha and saw her open her baby eyes, he felt the moment was truly special.
Felt So Good
Angelo 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.
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.
There is something all too special about the bond between a little girl and her dad.
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.