A triple treat soon trebled
In a symphony of cries, gurgles, coos and chuckles, two sets of triplets bounce, crawl, stare and smile in Nelson.
And over in Blenheim, a third set is growing by the day.
Last year there were only 11 sets of triplets born in the whole country. Nelson Hospital has been host to the three of them in the past year.
Dylan, Ryder and Indie are 11 months old, their mother Shelley King chases after them as they crawl around their play area, and picks them up for hugs as each demand them.
Zelia Boyd’s Harper, Xavier and Zander, four months, alternate between breastfeeding and dozing in their bouncers. In Blenheim, Nelson woman Shayla Cochrane has identical boys, Leo, Kyren and Malakai, also four months.
All three mums cried when they heard they were having triplets.
According to Statistics New Zealand, multiple births make up only 1.5 to 2 per cent of all births. In 2014, there were 808 sets of twins born and 11 sets of triplets. There hasn’t been a set of quads born in New Zealand since 1998.
Boyd and partner Ricky had a fertility drug but they were ‘‘pretty sure’’ that didn’t produce the triple babies.
‘‘I cried for six hours, and Ricky was laughing hysterically, which made it worse,’’ she said. ing said crying was standard, she did the same.
Also naturally conceived, on Cochrane’s first scan she found out she was having twins, but at 13 weeks triplets were revealed. They were born in Christchurch, and eventually moved to Nelson Hospital for two months.
Currently living in Blenheim with them, she planned to move with them back to Nelson later in the year.
Cochrane said was ‘‘very excited, they are an amazing gift to have’’.
She said some people will pity her for having the three babies, but she feels ‘‘very lucky’’.
The three mums say each of their babies have very different personalities.
King’s Ryder is a ‘‘deep thinker’’. Dylan is ‘‘just a bull, head down, crash bang’’.
For Boyd, Xavier is ‘‘cheeky and smiley’’, identical with Zander, also ‘‘a bull, he doesn’t do much . . . he just eats’’.
Harper is the ‘‘wee diva. Cochrane also sees three different people in her identical babies. ‘‘Kyren is very stubborn and very cute, Leo is mellow and chill, he goes with the flow and Malakai is a screamer. He’s very demanding.’’
Triplets were allconsuming and ‘‘very expensive’’ Boyd said. But it’s proved easier than she expected.
‘‘If they are in bed at seven o’clock, then I feel my day has been accomplished.’’