Miracle identical triplets come home for Christmas after parents advised to abort one

Image credit: Aditya Romansa via Unsplash

In what’s being hailed as a Christmas miracle, three identical triplets that defied odds were able to come home in time for Christmas, after their parents ignored doctors’ advice to abort at least one of the babies.

According to the Daily Mail, Shannon Page 29, and her husband Ace, 28, discovered they were pregnant with twins after undergoing a course of IVF. However, a nine-week scan revealed a third heartbeat confirming they were having triplets. 

However, at around 17 weeks, Mrs Page began fainting and doctors discovered that she was experiencing twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, a rare condition that can occur in a multiple pregnancy when babies share a placenta. This condition occurs when one baby is taking all the nutrients from the placenta, thus restricting the growth of the other baby or babies. Doctors advised the couple to abort at least one of the babies on the basis that they feared all three babies would not survive birth.

The couple instead decided to let “nature take its course”, but a 19-week scan revealed that Mrs Page had other problems with her cervix that could trigger premature labour at any moment. So, they moved from their home in Somerset to a rented place in Bristol so they could be closer to St Michael's Hospital, in Bristol, where there is a specialist neo-natal unit, in case Mrs Page went into labour.

'The doctors were pretty certain we weren't going to make it past 21 weeks, which if we didn't none of the babies would have survived,” Mrs Page said. 'We were advised by several people to maybe terminate one or two to help one survive.”

'We decided not to go ahead with it and it is the best thing we have done. We let nature take its course and we are super grateful.'

Mrs Page gave birth to three identical boys on October 6th at 29 weeks and 6 days, whom they named Cruz, Enzo and Aljo, each weighing 2lb 7oz, 2lb 11oz, and 2lb 13oz respectively. They spent three months in the hospital, but were able to come home in time for Christmas.

'It's been an absolute whirlwind. We've been living out of hospital and trying to navigate each day as it comes,” said Mrs Page. 'But now the boys are doing really well; their feeding tubes are out and they are feeding from bottles. 

'Having them home for Christmas is the best present we could have possibly hoped for. We feel so incredibly fortunate. Our home will certainly never be the same again.'

Sandra Parda of the Life Institute commented saying: “What a miracle that these precious babies not only defied the odds, but were able to come home in time for Christmas with their parents and be a family! We applaud the bravery of these parents who gave them all every chance at life instead of turning to abortion.”

“The case does highlight the worrying number of cases that we are now seeing and hearing where doctors either pressure parents or nudge them towards abortion,” she added. “This must be highlighted and the culture must change, it is unacceptable to pressure parents to kill their own child.”