20 June 2024

When Laura and Lindsey decided to grow their family beyond two-yearold Isla, they never
imagined three new additions. Here Laura and Lindsey – Mummy and Mam – tell their multiples’ journey.

When Lindsey and Laura became parents to triplet girls in June 2023, their lives turned upside down. Looking back on their first year as a family of six, they have shared the highs and lows of their time together. They have watched their children grow and bond but they have also discovered the lack of specific support available in their area for families with multiples.

Lindsey describes the past year as an incredible privilege, as Mammy to four healthy girls, whilst also operating in ‘survival mode’, simply getting everyone through the day.
In total, the couple had 10 rounds of fertility treatment before discovering that they were pregnant with triplets. Big sister Isla was conceived after round six and they fell pregnant with the surprise triplets on round 10.
Talking about her pregnancy, Lindsey said: “I remember reluctantly letting my best friend hold us a baby shower – I was 24 weeks pregnant. We had a meal with family and friends. My best friend called it ‘Here Come the Girls’, rather than a baby shower. I just wanted to get to 24 weeks then I started telling some more people that it was a triplet pregnancy. We had to process it ourselves. When you go through fertility treatment you are prepared for the worst-case scenario, that you might not leave with a baby. We were going to leave with three in one go!”
Lindsey said fertility treatment was tough and thinking what was best to do was difficult.
She said: “We went with the experts’ advice. We knew it was going to be our last round and last shot at giving Isla a full sibling. The team at Newcastle Fertility Centre repeatedly advised us, like round nine, to transfer two embryos, due to their quality and other factors. We couldn’t believe it when both of them took and one split. It was just chance.
“We knew then that the future was going to be really hard with things like childcare and finances. It’s affording
four lots of childcare. I am quite surprised, now that the girls are here, at how little practical and financial help there is for parents of multiples. I was reassured during the pregnancy that there would be more help available, because we have quite a small network of family and friends around to help with the practical side of things, so I was quite worried about this. However, resources seem to be very limited where we live in Newcastle. Women getting back into work is a huge issue after a multiple pregnancy. Nationally, why aren’t multiples taken into account?
“I wish I had been more clued up and prepared for it before the girls arrived. But, with hindsight, maybe I was as ready as I was ever going to be. Some things you just have to deal with and make up as you go along.”
At 11 weeks pregnant Lindsey suffered a bleed called a subchorionic haematoma. She was on bed rest for three
weeks, due to a ‘threatened miscarriage’ with time in hospital. Luckily the haematoma was below the babies, and
not alongside or above them. It was after this that Lindsey became a lot more optimistic about the pregnancy.
Other than that, Lindsey said her pregnancy was pretty smooth and there was nothing to suggest after this that the triplets would be born before 35 weeks. She carried on working in her career as a teacher until 30 weeks pregnant to teach and support her GCSE and A-Level students up to their exams.
Lindsey added: “Everything was really positive and we had a C-section booked for 3 July with the consultant who delivered Isla, our eldest. I went into unexpected labour at 32 weeks plus three. It was during the night. I could barely walk. I rang 111 who sent an ambulance. The paramedics said they didn’t think I was in labour as I wasn’t making enough noise but that they would take me into hospital as I couldn’t walk. This was at 3.30am.”
Shortly after arriving at the hospital, by 4.15am,
Lindsey had gone from 4cm to 9cm dilated in just 15
minutes. Lindsey was on the operating table for an
emergency C-section just as the first triplet, Alice, was
trying to make her entrance into the world at 10cm fully
dilated. Laura hadn’t been able to get to the hospital as
it was during the night and she was at home with Isla.
Lindsey added: “Even if we’d found last minute childcare,
Laura wouldn’t have made it to the hospital in time.
The girls were officially born at 4.47am (Alice, 4.2lbs),
4.49am (Heidi, 3.5lbs) and 4.53am (Summer, 3.7lbs).
“I was in recovery until lunchtime, so Laura was first to
meet the girls in NICU at around 8.30am. This seemed
more than fitting as she’d missed the C-section. She
brought photographs back down to show me before we
could go up together later on that day.”
Lindsey added: “It was a very fast C-section. I had
Isla by C-section in 2021 so I knew what to expect. Thank
goodness I’d called 111 as I would have delivered at least
one of them in bed at home, I was later told, if I
hadn’t followed my gut instincts. It was sudden and
acute pre-eclampsia that put me into such a quick
labour.”
Heidi, Summer and Alice spent seven weeks
in hospital and once they were feeding normally,
instead of tube feeding, they were able to go home.
Lindsey achieved her dream goal of combination
feeding all three via breast and bottle.
Lindsey added: “There were a few things I
had to push for in hospital. You have to be quite
assertive when it comes to multiples. We have a
saying up here in Newcastle that’s ‘shy bairns get
nowt’ so if you don’t ask, you don’t get. The staff
were all amazing at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria
Infirmary but it was clear that many had never
come across triplets before and our stay wasn’t
helped by staffing shortages and ward closures.
The hospital’s Tiny Lives Team are incredible too.
“Becoming a triplet mum, it makes you more out
there and self-confident, in a way. Everything
you do is for them and making sure that people
are aware of your need to do things a bit
differently and to stick to some sort of a routine
straightaway.”
Lindsey said her Health Visitor was really
crucial in supporting the family too, going
above and beyond her role and helping the
family to get extra help from charities. Hands-on support
from other charities has also proved a lifeline for the
family. She added: “Newcastle’s perinatal mental health
team has also been second-to-none and I can’t thank
them enough.”
Twins Trust was there to support the family when they
needed it. Lindsey said: “In those early days, it was a
lifeline knowing we had a triplet specialist just a phone
call or text away. She calmed us down and helped us
a lot. The Twins Trust online triplet club made us feel
supported and part of a very special community.
“It really has been quite a journey. Isla is a fantastic
big sister and knows each of her
sisters so well now. Alice loves
story books and long cuddles,
Summer is the wriggler and
adventurer, and Heidi is just
always happy and up for a giggle.
“When they are all grown
up, I know we will look back and
be proud. Everyone who meets
our girls, including big sister Isla,
comments on how loved they are
and how well they are thriving.
It comforts me to know that they
will always have each other.
I am excited to see what the next
chapter brings.”