A couple have beaten 2-million-to-one odds to have ‘miracle’ identical triplets, after being warned by doctors there was a 50 per cent chance of them losing all three baby girls.
Becky Sefton, 29, and partner Adam Balduckie, 33, from Staffordshire, were expecting naturally conceived identical triplets—phenomenally uncommon and with odds of occurring as high as one in 2 million—stunned them.
Doctors warned the couple that their babies had a 50 per cent chance of making it, and even offered them a foetal reduction, which would enhance the chances of saving the other two while causing them to lose one of the babies.
But the couple decided against it, and welcomed identical twins Ellie and Everlyn and sister Ella on March 28, 2020 who were born seven weeks premature and weighing just 3lbs each.
Mother-of-six Becky said: “It is really rare to have triplets like this. Usually you get twins and then a singleton of the opposite sex, so it’s quite rare to get three girls or three boys.
“We did conceive naturally – I released two eggs one of which split into the twins and the other was the singleton.
“We knew it was possible because Adam’s family has twins, but we never anticipated to have triplets. I’m very happy. The fact that we have three still hasn’t sunk in to us. Even a month later, it hasn’t really hit in.”
Becky’s due date for the babies was May 14 but she was rushed to hospital on March 27 when she started having contractions.
Becky said the birth was an incredibly experience, revealing: ‘It was a miracle. The anaesthetist actually shouted “Jesus!” when they came out screaming and crying.
“He said he couldn’t believe they were all crying because their lungs were not developed yet.”
Becky said: “It has been quite difficult to be honest. My partner ended up missing the birth as I was rushed in to have a caesarean.
Becky revealed: “Once I was in recovery I had to stay in hospital for four days and Adam wasn’t able to visit me on the ward but he could see his daughters on his own.
“Because they were so little and covered in wires and tubes in the neonatal unit, we had to ask to remove them from their incubators. You were required to wash your hands, put on masks, aprons, and gloves. An absolute nightmare.”
Becky, who also has seven-year-old daughter Poppy, and sons Alfie, five, and Freddie, two, said: “I went to see them every day because I’ve had to have training on how to tube feed them.
“My other three children didn’t see them for three weeks until we brought them home. They are all smitten with them and couldn’t believe it.
“They are really happy to have three more siblings.”
Becky added: “The girls are doing brilliantly now. They are all laid back and don’t have distinct personalities yet.
“The kids are all pitching into help which is great. We’re just happy we’re all together.
“The triplets have assimilated into our rigid family routine, which has made life much simpler for us.
“You have got to be organised with three newborns. It is exhausting but very rewarding.”
