Allana Allard, a 29-year-old mother from Davistown, New South Wales, Australia, and her 31-year-old husband, Tim, were filled with happiness upon learning they were going to have their first child in October 2019. The couple experienced a short two-week period of trying to conceive before receiving a positive outcome on a home pregnancy test.
Filled with anticipation for their initial ultrasound at six weeks, Allana Allard, a 29-year-old mother from Davistown, New South Wales, Australia, and her husband Tim, were left astonished when they received the news that they weren’t expecting just one baby, but three. The revelation of having identical triplet boys named Jaxon, Zac, and Zavier, without any prior family history of multiple births, took them by surprise. Despite the unexpected turn of events, they embraced the joyous arrival of their sons in May 2020, amidst the ongoing pandemic.
Originally hailing from Falkirk, Scotland, Allana had moved to Australia at the age of 13. Reflecting on their journey, she shared, “We made the decision to start trying for a baby in October last year, and within a mere two weeks, we discovered we were pregnant. It was an overwhelming moment of happiness. We attended our first scan together, not expecting much since it was still early in the pregnancy.”
She continued, “Initially, we heard two heartbeats, and we were informed that we were having twins. However, during an internal ultrasound, we received the surprising news that we were actually expecting triplets. Tim’s face turned pale, and he uttered a few choice words. I was in shock. There is absolutely no history of multiple births on either side of our families, so it was completely unexpected. Once the initial shock wore off, we were filled with pure excitement. Of course, like any new parents, we had our share of apprehensions, but overall, we were incredibly happy.”
The chances of naturally conceiving identical triplets are estimated to be as rare as 1 in 200 million. As if the news of expecting triplets wasn’t overwhelming enough, Allana faced the additional challenge of navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. This meant strict lockdown measures and limited access for Tim to attend important appointments. Furthermore, the couple had to forgo having any family members visit the triplets during their three-week stay at the hospital before finally coming home.
The pandemic also had an impact on Allana’s 82-year-old grandmother’s travel plans. She had to postpone her visit from Scotland to meet her great-grandsons.
Reflecting on the experience, Allana expressed, “Dealing with COVID was an incredibly challenging time. Tim was not allowed to accompany me to any of the scans; he had to wait in the car for hours. None of our family members could meet the triplets until we brought them home. They spent three weeks in the NICU. It’s especially disheartening for my great-grandmother. She usually visits us twice a year from Scotland, but now we’re uncertain when she will be able to meet her great-grandchildren. It truly impacted the experience of our first pregnancy.”
Initially, the couple believed that two of their boys were fraternal while the other was identical, as Jaxon and Zac shared one sac and placenta, while Zavier had his own. However, DNA testing revealed when the triplets were six weeks old that they were, in fact, genetically identical.
Reflecting on the surprise of having identical triplets, Tim shared, “We never expected them to be identical since two shared a sac and placenta, while the other had his own. However, after they were born, it became apparent that they looked exactly the same. People suggested we get a DNA test just to be sure. We did a simple cheek swab test, and the results confirmed that they were indeed identical triplets. It was amazing to have that confirmation.” The boys were delivered via C-section at 33 weeks, weighing 1.9kg, 2kg, and 2.3kg.
Now that the triplets are approaching six months old, Allana and Tim have established a routine and are enjoying their family of five more than ever. Allana expressed her astonishment, saying, “It still amazes me to think that three babies came out of my belly. I had a smooth pregnancy without morning sickness or any significant complications. It took us a few months to get everything organized. We needed to have three of everything.”
She continued, highlighting the increased expenses and challenges of raising triplets, “It triples the cost of everything. We had to order our stroller from overseas, but it was delayed due to COVID; luckily, it arrived just in time. We go through at least three cans of formula a week, and the diapers are never-ending. We can’t go anywhere in town without people stopping us. Our stroller is so big, you can’t miss it.”
Despite the shock of having triplets, Allana emphasized that it has been a blessing, saying, “Ending up with triplets was such a surprise, but such a blessing. We wouldn’t have it any other way.”