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Family's joy at town's first triplets for 18 years
BABY, baby, baby! It's triple joy for one Worksop family who have had three brand new additions to their brood – the first triplets in the town for 18 years.
Sharon Birch, 37, of Lancastrian Way, has given birth to three healthy babies – two girls and a boy.
The safe arrival of Lily May June, Jack William and Olivia Grace has come as fantastic news for Sharon, already mum to Ryan, 17, Adam, 15, and Shane, 10, and her husband, Charlie, 38.
"We are over the moon," she told the Guardian this week.
"They are all healthy and didn't need any help with their breathing."
The tiny trio were born by Caesarian on Monday 22nd October.
They were scheduled to be Bassetlaw Hospital's first triplets in 18 years, but complications in the later stages of pregnancy forced Sharon to travel 100 miles north to a hospital in Middlesbrough.
"It was a bit daunting at first knowing I was going to have three more kids, when we had only planned one, but it has all worked out in the end."
"Charlie feels he's the first dad ever, and thinks I'm so brave for lying on that table and giving birth to all three of them," she added.
"It was a bit of a shock but we are delighted now," added Charlie. "I just hope they grow up fit and well, and we'll take each day as it comes."
Sharon said she had a fairly trouble-free pregnancy since she and Charlie found out the news she was expecting on Monday 11th June this year – just a day after their first wedding anniversary.
The couple had decided to try for their first baby last Christmas, but did not hold out much hope for success.
"Charlie's mum said he had a rupture when he was a baby, which meant he could possibly be infertile. So it was a major shock when we found out we were going to have triplets."
There is no history of naturally occuring multiple births on either Sharon's or Charlie's side of the family.
And with the chance of naturally occuring triplets currently at about one in 8,000, it is no wonder the family were in shock when they first heard the news.
After being admitted to Bassetlaw Hospital on Friday 12th October, Sharon was transferred to Middlesbrough on Saturday 20th because medical staff were concerned of the dangers if she went into labour on her own.
"It was a bit of a cat and mouse game – such a lottery," said Sharon. "There wasn't room for three neo-natal cots at Sheffield, Manchester or Liverpool, but luckily Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital had space. It was a worrying time."
When a scan revealed baby Olivia's placenta was deteriorating, doctors took quick action to ensure the triplets were delivered.
"Charlie made it with about 20 minutes to spare," said Sharon. "The birth went well, I just saw the babies one after the other. The room was packed with over 20 people and three teams, one for each baby. I've been desperate to have a girl, and thought I was going to cry when I first saw Lily."
Lily and Jack who weigh in at three pounds each, and Olivia at two pounds 15 ounces, were taken to Northallerton Hospital on Wednesday 24th October to ease room at Middlesbrough, returning to Worksop last Friday.
Bassetlaw Hospital's head midwife Vivienne Knight said they were disappinted the nearest available neo-natal unit was in Middlesbrough at such an exciting time for the family.
"But we have to play safe in the interests of the babies' health – with a multiple birth there's always the possibility that each baby may need intensive care and ventilation, especially if born prematurely.
We are delighted to hear of the safe delivery of Sharon's triplets and send the family our best wishes."
All three babies are currently being looked after at Bassetlaw Hospital's Special Care Baby Unit, and should be allowed to return home in three to four weeks.
"I would love to ultimately return to work, but won't know how I feel until I get the babies back home," said Sharon, who works at Martins newsagents in Prospect.
The family have successfully put in an offer on a three-bedroomed house in Rhodesia to cope with the increased numbers, but will not be able to move until they receive an offer on their current home.
"It's going to be hard, but people have been excellent," said Sharon. "We've got enough baby clothes, creams and nappies to last us for the next two years."
She thanked the staff at the hospital for their care, her neighbour Serena for helping with the ironing and her colleagues and customers at Martins for setting up the triplet fund.
"I also want to thank my mum," she added. "She has been amazing. I couldn't have done it without her."
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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