Laura and Roy Donegan, both 39, from Reading in Berkshire couldn’t be happier when they welcome “miracle” triplets born this year. Laura gave birth to Scarlett, Max and Troy on June 26 this year after her fourth attempt at ⒾⓋⒻ treatment. The trio were born six weeks and four days early by an elective Cᴇsᴀʀᴇᴀɴ, with Mrs Donegan requiring a ᴛʀᴀɴsғᴜsɪᴏɴ after ʟᴏsɪɴɢ more than two-and-a-half liters ofʙʟᴏᴏᴅ. Scarlett, Max and Troy, who weighed 4lb 2oz, 3lb 14oz and 3lb 8oz respectively at birth. Despite their ᴘʀᴇᴍᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ birth, the triplets and their mother were able to leave St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, after just six nights and without needing to spend any time in the ɴᴇᴏɴᴀᴛᴀʟ intensive care unit.
Now, Mrs Donegan and her husband Roy, 39, are spending their first Christmas together as a family of five, with their triplets turning six months old on Boxing Day. Laura said :” During the pregnancy we just wanted them to be healthy and we were ᴡᴏʀʀɪᴇᴅ there might be ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴs. We were so relieved they were healthy. We definitely feel as though it was a miracle. It has been a long journey to be where we are now with four rounds of ⒾⓋⒻ treatment. It got to the point where you think ‘will it ever happen?’ The triplets needed feeding eight times a day for the first few months of their lives – a process that took one-and-a-half hours each time.”
Adding to the sᴛʀᴇss, the couple moved twelve weeks after the birth from their home in Brook Green, central London, to a property in Reading to be closer to their family. Roy said while the enormity of having triplets was initially a ‘complete overload’, they were assisted by the charity multiple milestones which assists parents with three or more babies. The charity helped the couple with feeding and bathing routines, as well as supporting them on how to prepare for Roy’s eventual return to work. The Roy celebrated Christmas Day with six visiting family members in their new home.
