Triplet birth: At the end there were 3!

Translation of: Parto de trillizos: ¡Al final fueron tres! de MundoBebe

"This is a history of disagreements between nature and technology starting on Thursday May 6, 1999 at 6 and 30 am, at the Hospital Alvariza of the city of San Carlos. (Uruguay)

I was in the guard room when the nurse tells me that a pregnant woman, Alicia Diaz, carrying twins, was consulting by contractions.

I immediately went to the clinic where the patient tells me she had been with irregular contractions all night. That morning she had to pick up an abdominal x-ray that the doctor had ordered, since they didn’t know if she was 32 or 36 weeks of gestation. There was no coincidence between the date of her LMP and the ultrasound, so the x-ray would determine the gestational age of the infants.

Alicia spoke quietly and slowly, without hiding the discomfort caused by contractions.

I proceeded to do the pelvic examination, and for my surprise I see that the dilation was complete and my fingers touched a tiny foot ...

I called by phone the gynecologist and pediatrician, while we move the lady to the delivery room.

At 7.20 John was born weighing 2000 g., At 7.30 Gustavo was born weighing 2400 g. Both were born in the footling breech position (Feet came first).

We performed the Capurro test to confirm gestational age, which was 36 weeks.

The delivery room was full with joy and laughter as everything had gone well: children enjoyed great vitality and the mother was happy with her two boys. As everything had passed so quickly, neither the gynecologist nor the pediatrician arrived in time for delivery. After attending both births I got ready to attend the delivery of the placenta.

When I examine the lady, I am struck by the size of her remaining stomach, and this time my fingers hit a head...

"There is another one" is what I managed to say. Immediately the reactions of those who were in the delivery room were most diverse: the nurses thought it was a joke, the mother asked for an ultrasound...

A few minutes later Alfredo pocked his head as if to ask why the fuss.

He had mocked ultrasound unwilling to show himself until the last minute. He was as vital as his brothers and weighed 2050 grams.

I wanted to share with you this life experience, unforgettable for all who were there and meditate about the wisdom of nature. Sometimes we do not let her take her course for our lack of patience.

I thank the nurses who assisted the birth, and a special thanks to Alicia, her calm eyes and unhurried voice gave me the opportunity to help her bring three babies to this world."

Elizabeth Hegedus

Midwife