In this day of abundant In vitro fertilization, it is rare to hear of naturally conceived triplets, let alone this. From BBC News, May 12:
A 28-year-old mother from Norfolk has more than doubled the size of her family with the birth of triplet boys.Ken and Emma Spooner's new babies are particularly special because they are identical. The chance of this occurring naturally is one in 150,000.
The brothers joined their sister Molly, 8, and brother Jacob, 5....
Identical triplets are born when 1 fertilised egg splits to create 3 separate embryos....
Alfie, Zac and Sebastian have found fame as celebrities since their birth... last month by caesarian section 6 weeks early.
According to The Telegraph:
They had a combined weight of nearly 15 lbs with Zak weighing 5lb 2oz, Sebastian at 4lb 12oz, and Alfie at 4lb 11oz.
The healthy boys only required 8 days hospitalization. Congrats to the family!
[Photo attribution: EDP News]
Comments:
What? No selective reduction? Selfish, I say.
/sarc
OMG sooooo cute. Lots of work, but so cute.
Posted by: SUZANNE at May 13, 2009 10:29 AMActually, there is really little need for selective reduction with triplets. They aren't statistically more risky than three separate singleton births. I can understand it in the case when one has a severe defect like Trisomy 18 or 21, but when the babies are healthy selective reduction isn't worth it IMO.
Posted by: Kate at May 13, 2009 10:42 AMBearing healthy triplets is not a sign of illness. These sure are blessings.
Posted by: xppc at May 13, 2009 10:44 AMSweet baby boys!! They are beautiful!
Kate,
Whew. Thanks for clearing that up. Grateful this mommy let her baby boys live.
What a gorgeous photo. I wish them all the best !
Posted by: Janet at May 13, 2009 11:06 AMIt wasn't a fertilized egg that split into 3 - it was a single embryo that twinned and probably another one that twinned again.
http://www.thrufire.com/blog/2009/03/fertilized-eggs-vs-zygotic-human-embryos/
I'd love to see 6th graders catch the reporters on this stuff.
Posted by: Chris Arsenault at May 13, 2009 11:07 AMGorgeous! :)
Posted by: Kel at May 13, 2009 11:46 AMI can understand it in the case when one has a severe defect like Trisomy 18 or 21, but when the babies are healthy selective reduction isn't worth it IMO.
Posted by: Kate at May 13, 2009 10:42 AM
It's not worth it in those cases either.
Indeed, Chris. Which also means that one of her 'babies' died in the womb. Shouldn't she be mourning that one?
Posted by: Erin at May 13, 2009 12:25 PMCute x3!
Posted by: heather at May 13, 2009 12:28 PMHI Erin.
"Which also means that one of her 'babies' died in the womb. Shouldn't she be mourning that one?"
No, I don't think so. Start with a single embryo and it twins, so now you have two. Then one of those twins so now you have three. I don't see why there is any reason to believe that there was another baby in there who died.
Posted by: Bobby Bambino at May 13, 2009 12:31 PMBobby, actually, in any case of identical siblings who are odd numbered, one died. Hmm...
o
/ \
o o
/ \ / \
o o o o
Ok, I tried to illustrate as best I could. One embryo twins. 2 embryos. Those 2 embryos twin. 4 embryos. One dies. 3 embryos.
Posted by: Erin at May 13, 2009 1:01 PMWhy do both of your twinned embryos have to twin, Erin? Altogether only two twinnings are necessary, not three.
Posted by: Jon at May 13, 2009 1:09 PMStop fighting!
Congrats to this family, they're very handsome little boys!
Posted by: AK Krystal at May 13, 2009 1:15 PM 0
/ \
0 0
/ \
0 0
Ugh... that was horrid.
Stage 1:
A --> A1 A2
Stage 2:
A1 --> A1
A2 --> A2a A2b
Three children. All alive. Yay.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 13, 2009 1:21 PMPosted by: Erin at May 13, 2009 12:25 PM
--------
Erin - actually Bobby has it right.
How are you arriving at three twinning events?
Posted by: Chris Arsenault at May 13, 2009 1:22 PMI want to hold them!!!
Posted by: Janet at May 13, 2009 1:35 PMHey - wait a minute - Bobby?!
Me too, Janet!
I love her happy, proud and tired Mommy smile!! :)
Somewhat related to this topic.... Is it common to use the words "hatch" and "yolk" when talking about in vitro procedures? I was shocked to see the terms used on this fertility forum.
http://forums.fertilitycommunity.com/vitro-fertilization-ivf/2020178012-what-stage-does-embryo-split.html
"Hey - wait a minute - Bobby?!"
LOL...baby just got born... details to follow...
Posted by: Bobby Bambino at May 13, 2009 2:52 PMBobby,
Yeah!!! Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
:^))
I knew a set of identical triplets. We all worked at Coldstone together in highschool. It was great when it was just the 4 of us working because customers always did a triple take and then looked at me with a confused look.
Posted by: Lauren at May 13, 2009 3:26 PMLauren,
Very funny! How did you tell them apart?
MMMMMM...COLDSTONE!! I might have to get some to celebrate the new Bambino!! :)
Posted by: Carla at May 13, 2009 3:44 PMCongrats, Bobby! Hope mom and baby are doing well. Our Lady of Fatima must be smiling today!
Posted by: Fed Up at May 13, 2009 4:14 PMThere were some triplets in the grade above me at school. To this day when I see one of them around town I can't tell the difference.
Side note.... I remember the Full House episode where Jesse mixed up his two twin boys and didn't know which one was which. I wonder if these ever really happens when the children are first born before the parents learn the personalities of their children.
Posted by: Jana at May 13, 2009 4:31 PMYou're right, Fed Up, I got it wrong, It's the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima!!
Posted by: Janet at May 13, 2009 4:46 PMThe vast majority of multiples are fraternal, so I'm a bit surprised so many people on here know identicals.
Posted by: Kate at May 13, 2009 5:27 PMHello! So we had our second child today. Aniela was born at 3:14, and weighed 9 lbs 0 oz. She has a very full head of hair. Thank you so much to everyone for your prayers and well-wishes. God love you all.
Posted by: Bobby Bambino at May 13, 2009 5:28 PMYay, Bobby! Congrats to you and your family! :) What a beautiful name, too.
Hug your wife a lot--it's no picnic delivering a 9 lb. child. Trust me! :D
Posted by: Kel at May 13, 2009 5:38 PMBobby,
Thats great! Any way we can see pictures?
Posted by: Jana at May 13, 2009 5:42 PMKate, I also have identical twin brothers in law. I'm not sure knowing two sets of identical siblings is all that remarkable.
Posted by: Lauren at May 13, 2009 5:44 PMYeah, I think so, Janet. I'm gonna download some of the newest ones to the computer and try and find a couple good ones. I don't know how to add a picture to a post, so maybe someone can help me with that (I'm lookin at YOU Bethany... :)
Posted by: Bobby Bambino at May 13, 2009 6:41 PMCongratulations, Bobby and family!!
Posted by: Carla at May 13, 2009 7:43 PMBobby, congratulations!
Posted by: Jasper at May 13, 2009 8:12 PMBobby, congratulations to you and all!! Pictures, pictures, please:]
Posted by: heather at May 13, 2009 9:17 PMWOW! 9 pounds! That's a big gal!!! Your wife must be a real champ! My largest was a little over 8 lbs. and I do mean *ouch*!!!!
Posted by: heather at May 13, 2009 9:18 PMCongratulations Bobby! You must be so excited.
Love the picture of the beautiful triplets too.
Posted by: Joanne at May 13, 2009 9:52 PMThey are gorgeous. God bless them all.
Posted by: YCW at May 14, 2009 2:12 PM
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.