Meath couple expecting identical triplets in super-rare pregnancy
Louise Walsh
A MEATH couple say they are still in shock after defying odds of up to 200 million to one in falling pregnant naturally with identical triplets.
Emma Lennon (31) and her partner David Hopkins (32) had given up hope on having children after trying for two years when they discovered they were expecting three identical daughters in the extremely rare mono-zygotic pregnancy
Emma didn't even know she was pregnant and had only opened her own hairdressing salon in Mornington just days before she found out at seven weeks.
The Bettystown resident is now 21 weeks pregnant and being watched closely by medics in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda where she could give birth in just seven weeks time.
Emma already has a ten year old girl Kacey who is involved in every step and super excited, after wishing for a baby brother or sister for so long
The couple had been trying for a child for two years and tests couldn’t find any fertility issues.
“I was undergoing treatment for pre-cancerous cells which were picked up by smear tests so thought that might have affected my fertility," said Emma.
“We accepted that we may never have children."
Emma at home with David and Kacey.
She only found out she was pregnant at seven weeks last Halloween and went for the hospital scan at 11 weeks and three days in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.
‘We were staring at the screen when the sonographer said there were two little souls in there.
“We were surprised but not shocked because my dad was a twin and my uncle and aunt are twins and David’s nan is a twin so they run in the family.
“I was delighted because it was always a dream of mine to have twins.
“But then she spotted baby number three and David keeled over. He was on his knees, pleading with the sonographer to stop counting.
“It turns out that the mono-zygotic pregnancy isn’t hereditary at all. It was just a spontaneous thing that my egg split in three and the identical girls are all sharing the one sac and placenta.
“It’s a super rare pregnancy, especially as it happened naturally. I think the odds are anywhere between one in 60,000 and one in 200 million,” says Emma.
“It’s a super rare pregnancy, especially as it happened naturally. I think the odds are anywhere between one in 60,000 and one in 200 million.”
However the initial shock and delight was replaced with dread when the sonographer initially thought there may be a chromosome problem, after noticing fluid at the back of the baby’s neck.
“We were left in a room while a consultant was notified and the shock was suddenly replaced with fear and hope that there was nothing wrong with all three babies’
Thankfully a consultant thought there was nothing to worry about and subsequent scans are all perfect.”
The babies are due to be born in April.
“People are so interested in our story’ I’m excited but so nervous as well, which is normal.
"The doctors are saying the triplets may be born at 28 weeks but because the pregnancy is going really well, I'm hoping to hold onto them for a little bit longer.
"We are still taking it in to be honest and have so much to do. We will have to get a bigger car and buy everything in threes so it will be a huge undertaking but one we are all really looking forward to."