A mum who didn’t know she was pregnant went on to have triplets in a staggering turn of events in th Midlands.
Bethany Smith gave birth to two girls and a boy after having to have an emergency Caesarean during lockdown.
The mum, from Burton, in Staffordshire, welcomed girls Kiren and Kirit, and boy Arjan, at 31 weeks on April 4.
Photo credits: Bethany Smith
The 26-year-old is already mother to three older children, and told DerbyshireLive she was surprised when she found out she was pregnant again, despite using the coil as contraception.
When doctors told her it was not one but three babies she was having, she and her partner were stunned.
Bethany and her partner said that multiple births do not run in either of their families and it was even more of a shock to find out Bethany was pregnant as they were on contraception at the time.
Photo credits: Bethany Smith
She said giving birth during lockdown was surreal and took some the excitement out of bringing new life in the world as she could not see the baby girls for two days as they needed helped with their breathing.
And there was a scare for the couple at 26 weeks when Bethany went into labour early. she was rushed into hospital, where doctors managed to halt her labour, preventing the triplets being born too early.
Photo credits: Bethany Smith
Bethany said: “It was really horrendous.
“I couldn’t see the girls for two days as they were on breathing equipment.
“Only one parent could visit once a day and we had to wear masks, gowns and gloves.
“It was very surreal and not how you’d imagine.
“All the excitement of having a baby was taken away because of Covid-19. We couldn’t do what normal parents would.
“The labour was ok. They rushed me in and I had surgery quickly as it’s too dangerous to deliver naturally.
“I previously went into labour at 26 weeks and was rushed to a London hospital but luckily they stopped it.”
Photo credits: Bethany Smith
Bethany said: “They were in hospital for three weeks then came home and all are doing great.
“Neither of us have any multiples in the family it was a complete shock as we were on contraception at the time!
She says the triplets are all doing well now.