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On 02 January, Tasmania’s first identical triplets in many years were welcomed into the world at the Royal Hobart Hospital.
First-time parents Keely Walsh and Mathew Alves (pictured) met their little bundles of joy at 4.59pm, 5pm and 5.01pm. Delivered by C-section at 32 weeks, each tipped the scales at 1.5 kilograms.
“They’re feeding great, they’re doing great, they’re healthy,” says Mathew, as Keely and he cradle the babies in their arms in the Neonatal and Paediatric ICU. “We could do skin-to-skin contact on the second day, it was a magical moment for our little family.”
It is incredibly rare to naturally conceive identical triplets, also known as MCTA (monochorionic triamniotic) triplets. Family history can play a role in having triplets; Keely’s grandmother is a triplet and Mathew’s uncle and aunt are twins.
These lovely baby girls could well be the state’s first identical triplets in a decade. They’re also among the first babies of the new Generation Beta.
“I had endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome, so I got told my chances of naturally conceiving children was pretty low,” recalls mum Keely, “We definitely approve the doctor’s role on that one! We had tests done and I’ve been taking the supplements they recommended and fell pregnant within three months of trying.
“Obstetrician and Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist at the RHH Wellington Clinics, Dr Lindsay Edwards deserves a special mention, and also Senior Sonographer Susan Weeding—it’s very hard to scan three identical babies!—they were both fantastic. Everyone at the hospital who helped with the pregnancy and deliveries—our midwife Carly Donaghue, Dr Ross van der Walt, Dr David Gartlan, the anaesthetist and nurses—worked perfectly as a team."
“We are very blessed,” Mathew agrees, “This is the best introduction we could have to our babies because we have the nurses here helping us do everything.”
There’s a bit of Tassie in the babies’ names: Aurora, Niara and Moana (pictured). The eldest’s name, Aurora, is a nod to Mathew’s Portuguese roots and the Southern Lights. “Keely is of Aboriginal descent, and Niara is a name for ‘Spirit’,” Mathew shares, “Moana is one of our favourite movies, and means ‘ocean’ in Hawaiian, and we are both Pisces and love the water, and we were hoping the girls would be Pisces too—they were due on Keely’s birthday!”
This is just the second couple with MCTA triplets under Lindsay’s specialist care. “The other was in Melbourne many years ago and those babies were delivered at 26 weeks due to pregnancy complications,” the doctor recalls.
“Identical triplets are quite rare, where one embryo has split in three at a stage of development where the babies will all have their own sacs, but share a placenta,” says Lindsay. “Contemporary reports suggest about 1 in 100,000.” Non-identical triplets are more likely, she adds, “We’ve had five sets of triplets in the last 18 months across the state.”
The new parents are looking forward to driving home to Squeaking Point in North West Tasmania, and introducing the babies to Keely’s family and their labrador, a service dog who assists Keely in her role as a specialist clinical social worker.
Congratulations Keely and Mathew, thanks to the healthcare staff, and the sunniest welcome to the bubs!