The 24-year-old woman naturally conceived triplets, giving birth to two girls and a boy at week 36, one of whom weighed 1.9 kg and the other two weighed 2.6 kg.
On July 2, a representative of Hai Phong Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital said that the pregnant woman, who was pregnant for the first time, was admitted to the hospital due to lower abdominal pain. Doctors determined that this was a rare high-risk pregnancy, a spontaneous triplet pregnancy in which one fetus was slow to develop. The pregnant woman underwent a cesarean section to ensure safety.
Two girls and one boy were born with good reflexes. The baby girl weighed 1.9 kg and showed signs of jaundice so she was transferred to the hospital’s neonatal department for monitoring. Currently, the mother and her four children are in completely stable health and have been discharged from the hospital.
The pregnant woman said she was very surprised to learn she was carrying triplets. She initially went to a private clinic for an examination, and the doctor concluded that she was carrying twins. At 32 weeks, the doctors suspected fetal malformations when they saw an ultrasound image of three skulls, which made the whole family worried. When she went to Hai Phong Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital for a thorough ultrasound, the doctors confirmed that she was carrying triplets.
“Natural triplets are rare, with world literature recording a rate of 1/8,000 births,” the doctor said. In fact, in Vietnam, a few hospitals occasionally record cases of natural triplets – that is, naturally conceived. Currently, many cases of multiple pregnancies through in vitro fertilization can choose to decide on the number of fetuses, gender (in some cases), and screening for fetal abnormalities.
Women carrying multiple pregnancies should pay attention to their diet, because the nutritional needs of the fetus double or triple compared to a single pregnancy. The mother needs to supplement more nutrients to reduce the risk of malnutrition for the baby, even after birth. The mother should rest a lot, relax, and avoid overwork to limit the risk of pregnancy complications.
Pregnant women must have regular check-ups and be closely monitored by doctors to assess the development of the fetus and the health of the mother in order to promptly detect and handle any unusual signs.