Woman gives birth to rare triplets

News imageBirmingham Women's and Children's Hospital A photo of a woman looking down at three babies who are sleeping. She has got a white top on with blue stripes. Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital
There are about 120 recorded triplet births each year, according to the Twins Trust

A woman has given birth to a set of rare triplets.

Georgie Bradnock said she was "so surprised" to hear three heartbeats when she attended her 12-week pregnancy appointment.

The mum from Willenhall in Wolverhampton, who also has a daughter, said: "From 16 weeks we had an appointment every two weeks for growth scans, due to the high risk of twin-to-twin transfusion, they wanted to keep us updated on their progress which meant we needed the extra scans."

Helen Peck, from the Twins Trust charity, said there were about 120 recorded triplet births each yearin the UK, adding: "To conceive triplets naturally is a unique phenomenon and really, really exciting."

News imageBirmingham Women's and Children's Hospital A photo of three babies with feeding tubes on their nose and wearing white onesies. Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital
Two of the babies are identical and the other is fraternal

Throughout her pregnancy, Bradnock was monitored closely by the team at Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital.

It was decided the safest way to deliver the babies, two of whom are identical and the other fraternal, would be by Caesarean.

"It was so different to the other birth I had, I felt calm and reassured, there were around 20 people in a row ready to help, everyone was happy to chat and kept it relaxed," Bradnock said.

Dr Deepa Rajan, consultant in obstetrics and foetal medicine, said: "It was a pleasure to have cared for Georgie and her triplets in the pregnancy, and I am very pleased with the good outcome safely for the babies and the family."

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