These Parents Of Two Boys Prayed For A Baby Girl But Got Something Neither Of Them Expected
Southern California couple Angie and Gino were living a happy, healthy life with their two young sons. And while the family was content, Angie and Gino couldn't help but think that something was missing — a baby girl. This is the story of Angie and Gino and their wish that came true.
Angie And Gino Had Always Dreamed Of Becoming Parents
Some people seem to be made for parenthood, like Angie and Gino. When the couple got married, they were eager to start their family. From the get-go, they knew they wanted children and they couldn't wait to add to their already happy bunch.
Before long, the couple got pregnant with their first child, a healthy baby boy. Not even two years later, they got pregnant again and welcomed another healthy baby boy to their growing family.
Angie and Gino Were Living Happy, Healthy Lives With Their Two Sons
From the start, Angie and Gino took great pride in being parents. They loved watching their sons grow up and reach milestones with each passing day.
For the parents, there was nothing better than living life with their two happy, healthy sons and watching them grow into smart, kind-hearted individuals. But there was still one thing missing. Read on to find out what Angie and Gino wanted for their family.
They Wanted To Add A Baby Girl To The Mix
Angie and Gino already had two happy and healthy boys. While the little family was living a good life in Southern California, the parents thought something was missing. Of course, the couple was grateful for their little family, but they knew that adding a little girl to the mix would make things complete.
The couple prayed and prayed for a daughter until one day when Angie took a pregnancy test.
It's a Girl!
Angie was ecstatic that she was pregnant again and the happy parents couldn't wait to figure out whether their third child was going to be a boy or girl. Of course, Angie and Gino would have been happy to add any child to their growing family, but deep down, they were hoping for a girl.
When the time came to figure out the sex of baby, the nurse turned to the couple and said, "It's a girl!"
It's a Girl...Times Three!
Angie and Gino were over the moon when they found out that Angie was expecting a girl. But while the doctor was performing the ultrasound, the look on his face shifted from excitement to utter shock.
Angie wasn't just having one girl. Angie was having three girls. She was pregnant with triplets. The couple could not believe what they were seeing on the ultrasound.
Three Babies, Two Placentas
Angie and Gino were already surprised that they were now expecting not just one baby girl, but three. That's when things got even more unusual.
As Angie's doctor was performing an ultrasound, he noticed that Angie had two placentas. This meant that two of the baby girls were sharing one placenta and had split from a single egg, making them identical. Meanwhile, the third baby girl had formed from an entirely different egg.
A Rare Pregnancy
Angie and Gino never expected their prayers would be answered three times over. Things seemed to be getting increasingly strange now that they knew two of the triplets were identical.
Angie and Gino had conceived naturally, so her pregnancy was indeed very rare. In fact, the chances of having triplets are just 1 in 4,000 — but the chances of having triplets where two are identical was much, much rarer.
They Prepared As Much As Possible
While Angie and Gino were over the moon with excitement about their growing family, the couple needed to come to grips with what was to come. They knew their lives were about to change drastically so they got to work.
The couple started preparing for the girls' arrival early on by hiring a nanny, purchasing a minivan, and reaching out to their friends and family for support. Because both of them held jobs, they also worked with their employers to ensure they could have professional flexibility.
High-Risk Pregnancy
With Angie expecting triplets, her pregnancy was considered high-risk. During the early stages of her pregnancy, Dr. Daneshmand had warned the parents that this time around would be much different than when Angie had delivered her sons.
While the idea of potential complications was in the back of Angie and Gino's minds, they still weren't prepared for what was about to happen.
Angie Experienced Serious Complications
When Angie was just 26 weeks pregnant with the triplets, she experienced serious complications. Fluid discrepancy had occurred suddenly and was creating a potentially dangerous situation for Angie and her unborn babies.
In an interview with Sharp Healthcare, Angie said, "We saw that the liquid for 'Baby B' was too low and for 'C' was a little high." The levels of liquid are important when a baby is still in utero, so it was imperative that Angie and her doctors took action right away.
Angie Moved Into the Hospital
The fluid discrepancy was posing a serious risk for two of Angie's babies. With fluid too high or too low, the girls were at risk of being born with brain hemorrhaging and underdeveloped lungs.
This meant that continuing her day-to-day routine was out of the question. To ensure that Angie and the triplets would be safe, Dr. Daneshmand determined Angie needed to go to the hospital and stay there for the remainder of her pregnancy.
Angie's Life Was Put On Hold
Naturally, Angie was shocked. "I said, 'Wait, right now?'" she said in an interview with Sharp Healthcare.
Angie found herself at a crossroads. Of course, she was prepared to do everything possible to ensure her babies would be safe — but at just 26 weeks pregnant, this would mean she would be in there possibl for weeks. With two kids at home, she was understandably upset that she couldn't be there with them all of the time.
The Family Made It Work
Moving into the hospital at 26 weeks was difficult for Angie. Not only was she on strict bed rest, but she wasn't even in the comfort of her own home. Worse, she was away from Gino and their two sons.
But this family puts family first, and they knew that this is what was necessary to ensure their family would grow. So, they made it work. Every day, Gino and the boys would visit Mom. It wasn't home, but at least they were together.
Date Night!
Put yourself in Angie's shoes for a minute. Not only are you navigating a high-risk pregnancy, but now you're forced to move out of your home and into the hospital for weeks on end. Worst of all, you're away from your family, save for a few hours each week during visitation.
Although this was Angie and Gino's reality, they were determined to do whatever it took to keep Angie's spirits up. To do so, they got a little creative. One of their new favorite activities was to have "date night" at the hospitals. "This is our date night that we never get at home," Angie said while the couple shared dinner in her room.
Touring The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
When you're expecting triplets, it's important to have a detailed birth plan for when the babies arrive. Although Angie's medical team was on top of her and the babies' health throughout Angie's pregnancy, they knew that the babies could end up in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) due to their small size.
So before Angie's due date, she and Gino toured the NICU at the hospital so they would be ready for whatever was thrown their way.
Baby 'B' Wasn't Growing As Quickly In The Womb
Throughout her pregnancy, Angie and her medical team were diligent about monitoring the babies daily. During a routine ultrasound they discovered that baby 'B' was smaller than baby 'A' and baby 'C.'
While this isn't unusual considering baby 'B' and baby 'C' were sharing the same placenta, it was still something the team would need to continue to monitor.
Aiming For 34 Weeks
While Angie was confined to the hospital, she and her medical team had one goal in mind: to make it to 34 weeks. If she could make it to 34 weeks without going into labor, the triplets would have a good amount of time to develop in the womb.
If the triplets were in the womb for less than 34 weeks, they had a greater chance of complications due to being underdeveloped.
Taking It Day By Day
With Angie now more than 30 weeks along in her pregnancy, all she could do was take it day by day. While she and Gino were eager to meet their newest additions, the longer the triplets stayed in the womb, the more time they would have to develop. Still, anything was possible at this point.
"Anything could happen between now and my due date," she said in an interview with Sharp Healthcare. "We could have contractions that can't control. We may do an emergency C-section. For us, we don't count the weeks here, we count the days."
It's Showtime
Although Angie and her medical team had hoped she would make it to 34 weeks, life had other plans for this family. When she was just 32 weeks and one day pregnant, Angie went into labor. The couple put their game faces on and were ready for what was ahead.
"Three little stars will be born tonight," Gino said. "I have some hard work ahead of me now," Angie added as they wheeled her into the delivery room.
Happy Birthday!
Before they knew it, Angie was dilated and the girls were ready to make their debut into the world. Because of safety concerns, Angie's medical team decided that a C-section was the best option for both Angie and the triplets.
The medical team prepped the room and Angie's C-section soon began. One by one, Angie's medical team delivered three baby girls, weighing just under four pounds each. The sisters were named Daniella, Anabella, and Camilla.
Each Baby Had Her Own Advanced Life Support Team
Angie's medical team had anticipated that she might give birth earlier on, so they were prepared. Since Daniella, Anabella, and Camilla were so small, each of the babies had her own advanced life support team to ensure they were healthy once they were delivered.
As soon as each baby girl was delivered, they were passed through a window to a room adjacent to the operating room. Here, the babies were assessed, stabilized, and helped with breathing before being transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit.
Angie Didn't Get To See Her Girls
After carrying a child for nine months and going through hours of labor, all a mother wants to do in hold her baby. Angie may have had a predetermined birth plan, but it was still hard for her to not to get to see her newborn children after they were delivered.
Since the girls were born so small, it was important to transfer them to the NICU right away. Angie was sad she couldn't hold them at first but was comforted knowing they were receiving the care they needed.
Breathing Isn't Always Easy
When Daniella, Anabella, and Camilla were born, they were each under four pounds. Because they were so small, their lungs weren't entirely developed. This caused them to have some difficulty breathing.
Fortunately, Angie's medical team was prepared for this scenario. They worked quickly to ensure that the triplets' lungs were open and that oxygen was flowing by putting them on C-pap. The girls were certainly in good hands, but it was still challenging for Angie and Gino to watch helplessly on the sidelines.
Stabilizing The Girls
At one points, the babies' oxygen levels were at just 55 percent, but Angie's medical team was prepared. The girls needed pressure to open up their lungs, so the nurses and doctors put them on C-pap.
Meanwhile, Angie got to see her babies for the first time on a digital camera. It was nowhere near the same thing as holding them herself, but it was all she had right now.
Nurses Watched The Girls Around The Clock
Now that the Daniella, Anabella, and Camilla were in the NICU, the nurses were watching them around the clock. It was important for everyone to remember that the girls were still very small and still predisposed to having other complications.
Alina Harper, one of the RNs working with the girls, said, "You know, I really empathize with the parents that have to have their babies and be separated from them."
The Triplets Were In Stable Condition
Just a few hours after Daniella, Anabella, and Camilla were delivered by C-section, they were doing much better. Although they needed to remain in the NICU to avoid any complications, they were stable and breathing on their own.
They were nowhere near ready to go home, but they were ready to do the next best thing...meet their mom and dad!
Reality Was Setting In
The day had been a whirlwind for Angie and Gino. After having spent weeks in the hospital, the big day was finally here. But since the girls had been rushed to the NICU, things didn't feel real just yet. After all, the parents still hadn't been able to hold their newborn daughters.
But as the medical team updated Angie and Gino, letting them know Daniella, Anabella, and Camilla were stable, things started getting real — and fast. The time was nearing to meet their babies.
The NICU Nurses Couldn't Wait For Angie And Gino To Meet Their Girls
NICU nurses deal with sentimental situations on a daily basis. When you're around parents during some of the most vulnerable moments of their loves, it's tough not to form an emotional bond with the parents and their babies. This was especially true for the nurses who watched out the triplets in the NICU. They were so excited for Angie and Gino to finally be reunited with them.
"I love to see the initial contact between mommy and baby," Alina Harper, an RN, said. "I always look for that, that moment that is just theirs that I get to be a part of."
Angie And Gino Were Cleared To See The Girls In The NICU
Although Angie had a long road ahead of her while she was recovering from her C-section, she was doing great. Both Angie and the girls were in stable condition and could finally be reunited.
The nurses wheeled Angie to the NICU. As Gino walked alongside side Angie and the nurse, the couple could barely contain their excitement. They were about to meet the three little angels that they prayed so hard for.
Finally Meeting Their Baby Girls
Finally, Angie and Gino were led into the NICU. The nurse wheeled Angie over to the individual stations were the girls where being monitored. At long last, she and Gino finally got to officially meet Danielle, Anabella, and Camilla.
As a nurse handed Angie one of her girls, Angie was in complete disbelief. She was so overcome with happiness that she couldn't help but cry. She turned to her husband and said, "It feels so right."
Reunited At Last
Although Angie was only separated from her girls for a few hours, it felt like much longer. "I was only a few hours apart from them and I already missed them," Angie said. "So it feels good to be reunited."
One by one, the nurses gently picked up the girls, as Angie got to hold each of them separately. She relished getting to hear each of them cry as she held and soothed them back to sleep.
Meeting Dad
Mom wasn't the only one who was anxious to meet her baby girls — Dad was too! Alongside Angie, Gino took turns holding Daniella, Anabella, and Camilla. The nurses even tucked each of the girls into Gino's shirt so they could receive the benefits of skin-to-skin contact.
Skin-to-skin contact can be especially beneficial for premature babies. During skin-to-skin contact, your body becomes a natural incubator, regulating your temperature to meet the needs of the baby.
A Special Moment With Dad
Often times, newborn babies don't open their eyes right after they're born. But when Anabella was placed on her dad's chest, she opened her eyes and tried to look up at him. When he would start speaking, eye eyes would follow his mouth, as if she was trying her hardest to listen to what he was saying.
"Look at that, she's opening her eyes, listening to me," Gino said. "Beautiful, beautiful feeling."
The Triplets Grow Up
After a few weeks in the NICU, the triplets had stabilized enough that they could finally go home. Finally, after Angie spent weeks pregnant in the hospital followed by the girls spending weeks in the NICU, they were able to take these little ladies home.
Now, after all this time, their family truly felt complete! As the girls grew up, they continued to thrive and developed their own personalities.
The Triplets Turn Six
It seemed like yesterday that Angie and Gino were cradling their girls in the NICU. But before they knew it, the years had flown by and it was time to celebrate the girls' sixth birthday!
A lot hard changed since 2010 when Angie wasn't even pregnant with the triplets. And while it felt like she spent years in the hospital on bed rest, the first six years of the girls' lives seemed to go by in an instant.
Angie And Gino Keep Busy With Five Kids
Being a parent is not an easy job. Being a parent to five children, three of whom are triplets is definitely not an easy job. But Angie and Gino make it work. Thanks to their commitment to putting their family first, Angie and Gino do whatever it takes to make sure they can always provide happy, healthy lives for their children.
Although they make it looks easy, we know that raising a family this big is no walk in the park!
A Happy, Healthy Family Of Seven!
Just over seven years ago, Angie and Gino were praying to get pregnant with a baby girl to complete their little family. Before they knew it, their prays were answered, and then some.
Today, they are no longer a happy, healthy family of four — they're a happy, healthy family of seven. With five kids all close in age, they're undoubtedly busy but they wouldn't want things any other way. For Angie and Gino, they called their life "fun chaos."
Sometimes Your Biggest Wishes Do Come True
Now that the triplets are growing up alongside their older brothers, it's hard for Angie and Gino to imagine their life before kids.With two boys and three girls, the couple surely has their hands full, but they wouldn't have it any other way. They prayed and prayed for a little girl and got more than they bargained for — and for that they are eternally grateful!
"It's truly a dream come true to have them come into my life," Angie says.
Already The Mother Of A Young Daughter, She Was Eager To Expand Her Family
Becki-Jo Allen and her boyfriend Liam Tierney lived with their daughter Indiana in Liverpool, England. The couple was eager to expand their family, and celebrated when Becki-Jo, 23 years old, announced that she was pregnant. Immediately, though, Becki-Jo felt off.
From the beginning, Becki-Jo experienced extreme headaches and nausea, stronger than she had during her pregnancy with Indiana. Becki-Jo and Liam visited the doctor for an early checkup and waited nervously for the ultrasound results. They could never have predicted the surprise that lay in store for them.
Baby One, Baby Two, Baby Three
Becki-Jo carried not one child, but three! She and Liam felt both stunned and relieved at the same time. "It was the biggest shock of my life!" Becki-Jo recalled in an interview. "We haven't got any triplets in the family, so it came completely out of the blue."
Statistics state that the chance of carrying triplets is one in 9,000. The odds decrease if the mother is young (Becki-Jo was 23) and does not use fertility assistance (which Becki-Jo did not). Her triplets were conceived at random with incredibly low odds. This made them all the more unexpected.
The Birth Scare
Although the pregnancy grew easier for a little while, another scare alarmed the couple at week 31. Becki-Jo began experiencing contractions. Though the babies were healthy, they were tiny and not ready for birth.
Thirty-one weeks is just over seven months, whereas most pregnancies last around 38 weeks. Liam rushed Becki-Jo to their local hospital, where doctors rushed to save all three babies by performing an emergency C-section.
Intensive Care
Fortunately, all three boys — Roman, Rocco, and Rohan — survived the Caesarean section. However, they couldn't remain with Becki-Jo as they were immediately rushed off to intensive care.
The boys' weight were all under what doctors consider a normal baby boy's weight (around five pounds). Rocco weighed three pounds and five ounces, Roman weighed three pounds and six ounces, and Rohan was the heaviest at three pounds and ten ounces.
Significant Health Risks For The Triplets
Twins and triplets have higher health risks early after birth. They can suffer from birth complications and congenital disabilities that result in life-threatening situations.
The triplets remained in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for six weeks, where doctors consistently monitored their heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, and blood pressure. Premature babies require extra help while their bodies catch up on the development they missed in the womb. The family often visited the three boys in Intensive Care, though wires and monitors obscured the babies' faces.
A Long-Awaited Arrival And A Harrowing Surprise
Fortunately, none of those crises arose for Becki-Jo's triplets. The triplets went home safely with their parents after six weeks in intensive care. Becki-Jo and Liam had busied themselves setting up the triplets' room and stocking up on baby products to welcome their new children.
The couple falsely assumed that the surprises were over. The first night back from intensive care, Becki-Jo panicked when Roman momentarily stopped breathing. However, this was a one-time ordeal, and the triplets have stayed healthy ever since.
Something Is Off
Once the couple started taking care of the boys, they kept getting stopped on the street by people noticing how similar they looked. Becki-Jo swabbed the inside of the babies' cheeks and sent it to a lab for a DNA test. Were two of the triplets identical, or were all three fraternal?
Appearing similar is typical for triplets. Most triplets are fraternal, meaning they stem from three separate eggs. Sometimes, one of the two eggs will split, making two of the triplets look more alike than the third. Even so, the parents and family struggled to tell the three boys apart.
Identical Triplets
All three boys had come from one egg! The single egg split into three separate eggs, meaning these triplets are all identical. Initially, the doctors had told Becki-Jo that the triplets were not monozygotic. Their assumption turned out to be wrong.
Even the doctors felt so taken aback that they had to double-check their work. Multiple sources estimate the chance of having identical triplets to be anywhere from one in 60,000 to one in 200 million. The chance that Becki-Jo would have this happen was almost nonexistent.
Once-In-A-Lifetime Spectacle
Becki-Jo's triplets are a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. Multiple births, where the mother gives birth to more than one baby, occurs one in 67 times. Even then, most multiple births are dizygotic, meaning the babies form from two separate eggs.
In the case of Becki-Jo's triplets, one egg split into two, and then the second part broke again. The chance of one egg separating into two is one in 250, and this happened twice with Becki-Jo's babies. This birth is so incredibly rare that most of us likely won't see it happen again.
Almost Exactly Alike!
Identical triplets share the exact same DNA. That means that Rocco, Rohan, and Roman share the same blood type, hair color, and eye color. Interestingly, some traits will differ between the twins — they'll each have different teeth marks and fingerprints, for example.
Science concludes that different personalities among the triplets will lead them to grow up with their own unique talents and lives. Their environment will cause each of them to turn out differently, but these identical triplets will most likely have similar personalities and IQs throughout their lives.
How Does Anyone Tell Them Apart?
Despite the triplet's identical appearance, Becki-Jo and Liam gradually learned to tell them apart. Becki-Jo remarked, "They've all got dark birthmarks between their eyebrows, but Roman's is slightly darker than the others, and Rohan has got a birthmark on his leg as well."
"But they all have completely different personalities," included Becki-Jo. According to the parents, Rohan often shouts, Rocco goes with the flow, and Roman refuses to share his toys! Unsurprisingly, the parents learned to quickly distinguish their sons.
The Challenge Of Motherhood
On her Instagram page, Becki-Jo shared that mothering these identical triplets has been one of the biggest challenges she's ever had to face. Fortunately, the brothers have had no major health issues since that first night after intensive care, but they still pose a challenge.
As a mother of four, Becki-Jo also struggles to run errands around town. She reports that people would often stop her to discuss the triplets, learning to their shock that they were identical. Even so, Becki-Jo seems to be a wonderful mother!
Goals As A Single Mom
Before having her first daughter Indiana, Becki-Jo desired to train as a neo-natal nurse. Her passion has only increased after having the identical triplets, as they spent six weeks in Neonatal Intensive Care, where Becki-Jo would potentially work after training.
The father, Liam Tierney, does not live with Becki-Jo. He spends most of his time helping his sister Laura, although he does come over to visit and offer support. For the most part, Becki-Jo raises all four children as a single mother.
How Much Do The Triplets Cost?
On top of her first child, Becki-Jo faced the tremendous task of caring for three babies at once. The triplets went through an average of five packs of wet wipes per week and 130 diapers during the same time period. That's 20 wet wipes per month and 520 diapers per month!
Becki-Jo also goes through about four packs of baby formula and runs the washing machine about three times a day. Even with four children, Becki-Jo did have some downtime. The triplets would take about 130 naps a week.
How The Sister Reacted
Fortunately, Becki-Jo's daughter Indiana has not shown a drop of jealousy since the triplets came home. Indiana fell in love with her brothers as soon as she met them. Even at six years old, Indiana helped whenever she could.
Despite the cost and the chaotic life, Becki-Jo loves each of her children just as they are. She views each child as a blessing and has learned much about herself through the adventure of raising these triplets.
Insta-Famous Mom And Babies
The story of these identical triplets appears time and time again all over the internet. Becki-Jo's Instagram currently has over 64,000 followers watching her babies grow. Yet, the mother seems to embrace the attention rather than avoid it.
Recently, Becki-Jo has hosted "ask me a question" events on her Instagram stories, responding with parenting advice and snapshots of her daily life. From how she handles tantrums, to how she cares for triplets, Becki-Jo happily answers any questions thrown her way.
Not The Only Unique Family
Although the rate of triplet births has decreased over time, four pairs of identical triplets were born worldwide in 2015. So even though Becki-Jo faces a unique challenge, she's not the only one. She can reference other parents and families for help.
In 2014, the Daily Mail told how one mother, Karen Gilbert, pained her triplet's toenails different colors so she could tell them apart. Kerry Lyons, who had three sons, has written articles on how to care for identical triplets. Now, Becki-Jo contributes to the collection of advice with her Instagram page.
Chaotic Birthdays
Birthday parties ended up being unique in Becki-Jo's household since three of her four children all celebrate together. Roman, Rocco, and Rohan all shared their own presents, balloons, cake, and party celebrations.
Luckily for the parents, big sister Indiana helped her mom with decorations and gifts. The whole family communed to make the triplet's birthdays as heartfelt as possible, even if they did have to share the cake. As tumultuous as the birthdays were, they ended up being rewarding for all.
Still Getting A Fulfilling Life
The triplets still live a normal life, however. From sibling quarrels to receiving report cards to visiting sandy beaches, Roman, Rocco, and Rohan live the lives any young boys would dream of. And Becki-Jo experiences the privilege of watching these identical triplet's "firsts."
Becki-Jo does report some fears of parenting, such as her kids crossing the main road by themselves. But the triplets' health scares have ended, and all that remains are the natural fears and joys of parenting young boys!
Two Years Later, Still Getting Attention
It's been two years since Becki-Jo discovered her pregnancy, and onlookers are no less intrigued. The mother says she continually gets stopped on the street by people remarking on their identical appearance. When Becki-Jo tells them her sons identical, their jaws always hit the floor.
The future remains bright for these identical triplets. People will likely continue to follow their progression, inspiring some potential social influencers in the future. Only time will tell how these miracle boys will develop.
