Three sets of twin girls
Now supermam Philomena, 44, welcomes Mabie Jane and Alicia
MEET the mother who has just given birth to her THIRD set of twin girls.
Philomena Flynn, 44, and husband Aidan welcomed their latest twin girls Mabie Jane and Alicia four weeks ago.
The newborns are sisters to Emma and Rebecca, 18, and Emer and Tara, 17, who are the family’s only set of identical twins.
‘Supermam’ mother- of- six Mrs Flynn told the Irish Daily Mail that due to her age the pregnancy was considered to be ‘high-risk’ and she credited the medical team at Dublin’s Coombe Hospital with her safe and healthy pregnancy. She said: ‘It was a wonderful surprise to find out I was pregnant again. It was obviously a big shock but one we wouldn’t change. It will keep me young. Lunatics, that’s what we are but all for the good, I say. ’
Mrs Flynn said her house was a bit ‘manic’ at present as her eldest daughters are studying for their Leaving Certificate and her second youngest daughters are in fifth year.
‘We have college in September for Emma and Rebecca and the following year Emer and Tara and then at home I have my beautiful newborns,’
‘Every visitor gets a job’
said the mother. ‘The house is crazy busy but we are getting a routine back, we’re getting there and if visitors call, everyone gets a job. The girls have been great.’
Having been routinely scanned throughout the pregnancy, Mrs Flynn was delighted to have a natural birth for the third time at the Coombe Hospital last month.
‘I’m 45 this month but the team at the Coombe Hospital have a fabulous multi-birth team and Dr Aisling Martin looked after me,’ she said.
‘The care I got was second to none. I was scanned regularly because of my age and they took such good care of me.. it’s a credit to them.
‘It was what they call a “high-risk” pregnancy from the start but thank God all went well.
‘It was a natural birth, like with all the other girls.’
The Co. Westmeath mother is on six weeks’ maternity leave from the company she works for but will be returning to work in the coming weeks for ‘financial reasons’.
As well as new babies, the family is dealing with a new business venture, Aidan & Phil Flynn Ltd, which sells agricultural accessories.
Mrs Flynn said: ‘My husband Aidan is doing very well with the new business which we started last July so it’s an exciting time all-round.
‘It’s a new business and it’s challenging but he’s well recognised with all things to do with farming and within the community so it’s going.’
Mrs Flynn was in Dublin yesterday with her newborns and older daughters for an appearance on Today FM’s Anton Savage Show.
She said: ‘I’m only taking six weeks maternity leave and will be returning to work then for financial reasons.
‘Who is going to mind the babies is the next challenge. It’s a very nervous challenge. Before, when I had my younger sets, my mum was alive and when you have your own it’s so much easier.
‘I have explored lots of avenues but haven’t decided on anything just yet. The increase in baby costs nowadays is incredible. It’s a small mortgage I can tell you.’
She said her older daughters were ‘delighted’ and ‘thrilled’ when they found out she was expecting.
‘I won’t tell you what they said first of all because they thought I was absolutely “ancient” to be doing stuff,’ she laughed.
‘They have been fantastic though and they really wanted twin girls so it was fingers crossed all the time.
‘They joked to the consultant that if the babies were twin boys, then there would be a DoneDeal advert placed and they could be collected at the door of hospital.’ Mrs Flynn joked: ‘My poor husband has a house full of women to deal with. Even the dog Holly is a female.’