Glee...it’s our miracle triplets’ first Noel
LAURA and Roy Donegan have three wonderful reasons to celebrate their first Christmas in their new family home – their “miracle” triplets Scarlett, Max and Troy.
Laura, 39, gave birth to the babies six weeks and four days early on June 26 this year, after her fourth attempt at IVF treatment.
They were born by an elective caesarean and Mrs Donegan needed a transfusion after losing more than four pints of blood.
Despite the premature birth, Laura and the triplets were able to leave St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, after just six nights and without needing a spell in the neo-natal intensive care unit.
The babies needed feeding eight times a day for the first few months of their lives and each feed took an exhausting one-and-a-half hours.
They were six months old yesterday and they and Laura and Roy, 39, spent their first Christmas together as a family of five.
Celebrated
Laura said: “During the pregnancy we just wanted them to be healthy and we were worried there might be complications.
“We were so relieved they were healthy. We definitely feel as though it was a miracle.”
Accountant Roy said: “It has been a long journey to be where we are now with four rounds of IVF treatment. It got to the point where you think, ‘Will it ever happen?’.”
Adding to the stress,
12 weeks after the triplets’ birth, the Donegans moved from their home in Brook Green, central London, to a property in Reading to be closer to their family.
They celebrated Christmas Day with six visiting family members.
Roy said while the enormity of having triplets was initially a “complete overload”, the couple were helped by the charity Multiple Milestones, which assists parents with three or more babies.
The charity helped the Donegans with feeding and bathing routines, as well as supporting them on how to prepare for Roy’s eventual return to work.