An unnamed 59 year old Frenchwoman, of Vietnamese origin, gave birth to triplets on Saturday night. After seeking in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Vietnam, the woman delivered two boys and a girl by cesarean at a Paris hospital. According to a spokesman, ‘everything went smoothly.’ The babies are healthy, weighing between 4 lbs 9 oz and 5 lbs 5 oz. No further details have been released yet.

There is obvious controversy surrounding this announcement. In France, the maximum age set by most clinics for a woman to participate in IVF is 42. In Vietnam it is 45. According to French media, it is illegal to provide fertility treatment to a woman past natural childbearing age. And according to at least one spokesman for the Catholic church, it is wrong. Archbishop Andre Vingt-Trois said, ‘On this particular point, scientific progress is not good for mankind.’ But she is not the first, nor the oldest, Frenchwoman to have accomplished this.

A baby was born in 2001 to a 62-year-old. And a 70 year old Indian woman gave birth to twins after receiving IVF treatment.

I’m still on the fence about this. But I’m leaning toward thinking if a woman wants a child this badly, I believe she’ll probably do her best to be a good mother. The life expectancy for a Frenchwoman, according to the CIA World Factbook, is 84. So it’s not like she won’t be able to see the children grow up. And I have had several close friends and a family member go through the pain of infertility, so I understand why couples pursue IVF, though I don’t think I’d do it myself. I’m not sure why a country would even have laws about how young you have to be to get pregnant. I also don’t agree with the Archbishop who thinks it’s bad for mankind.

For my part, I just don’t know why anyone would want to have a baby at that age. I’m feeling too old sometimes for my 5-month old, and I’m ‘only’ 35. My OB told me there was still plenty of time to have babies, but I think he must be working on job security. Because, as long as I have a say about it, I’m done.

As a mom of twins, I always try to keep myself updated on the latest news about multiples.

American researchers gathered data on multiple births in 2004 and reported in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology the following statistics:

• 139,494 babies were born of multiple pregnancies
• 132,219 babies were born as twins
• 6750 babies were born as triplets
• 439 babies were born as quadruplets
• 86 babies were born as quintuplets or higher order multiples.

The high rates of multiple births in the US are attributed to assisted reproductive therapies (ART). 35% of pregnancies and 34% of births made possible by ART resulted in multiple pregnancies in 2003. ART accounted for 44% of triplets and 16% of twins who were born in the US in 2003.

With multiple pregnancy comes risks to the mother and the babies. The main risks are preterm labor/delivery and low birth weights. The higher the order of multiplicity, the higher the risk. Compared to twins, triplets tend to be born on the average 3.5 weeks early. For quadruplets, it’s 5.4 weeks on the average. However, very premature births occur. In 2003, 5.6% of twins, 16.9% of triplet births and 28.3% of quadruplet births resulted in delivery before 29 weeks of pregnancy.

The health risks of very premature babies who survive are numerous and include:

• low birth weights
• congenital heart defects
• respiratory problems
• hearing and vision impairment
• cognitive impairment.

For the mothers of multiples, the following risks are significantly increased:

• gestational diabetes
• pregnancy-induced hypertension (preeclampsia)
• incompetent cervix
• premature rupture of membranes
• excessive bleeding during labor

The court (and the DNA test) has spoken. A set of triplets born 10 years ago in Cape Town, South Africa, was fathered by 2 different men. After a decade long legal battle and paternity tests, a cab driver finally found out that he fathered only 1 and not all the 3 babies of his then mistress. What started as legal battle for child support led to this intriguing revelation.

The article in the South African newspaper The Times, claims the triplets were conceived through superfecundation. Another possibility, however, is conception by superfetation.

They are defined from a previous post as:

1. Superfecundation – 2 or eggs are produced within 1 ovulation cycle are fertilized at different times (e.g. 2 or more sexual acts in close succession) to produce 2 or more babies.

2. Superfetation – 2 or more eggs are produced in 2 different ovulation cycles and are fertilized at different times (e.g. 2 or more sexual acts weeks apart) to produce 2 or more babies.

No details about the other Dad was given.

Multiple fatherhood is an uncommon occurrence and documented cases are rare.

In 1993 in the Netherlands, due to some mistakes in the lab during in vitro fertilization, two eggs from one mother were fertilized by sperms from two different men. The mistake was easily detectable because one sperm came from a man of African descent and the other (the real partner) was white. The mother gave birth to twins of different races.

The legalities of multiple fatherhood in case of multiple births can be complicated – even messy. Think about the consequences on child support, visiting rights, and inheritance.

Personally, I am happy that I am pretty sure my boys were fathered by one man, who is my husband. Makes thing simpler, don’t you think?

Only 17 and she has already brought 7 children into this world. Her name is Pamela Villarruel and she lives in Argentina.

Pamela delivered her first child, a boy, at 14. She got pregnant again a year later and delivered 3 girls. Another pregnancy followed and she again delivered 3 girls just days before her 17th birthday. Each pregnancy occurred with a different partner and both sets of triplets were non-identical. 7 kids in 3 pregnancies! And all these without IVF, hormone therapy or any other form of assisted reproduction.

She probably holds the record for having the most number of kids among girls of her age.
In addition, two times triplets which are fraternal or non-identical are a rarity. This means that she has produced 3 eggs which were all fertilized. It is not clear whether the triplets were conceived all at the same time or were conceived through superfecundation or superfetation.

After her second pregnancy, Pamela?s mother wanted her tubes cut but this was not allowed because she was (and still is) underaged. Instead, she received contraceptive injections. However, one missed shot and the second set of twins were conceived. It is not so clear what precautionary measures she is currently taking against further pregnancies since according to Argentine laws, she has to wait till she’s 21 to have her tubes cut.

Doctors call her a ?scientific rarity.? I say she is an extreme case of teenage pregnancy gone out of control. She is also a victim of failure of certain countries, cultures, and religions to face issues of teenage sex and contraception.

But I really wish her and her kids all the best.

Source:

Sunday Mirror UK, 30 March 2008

AOL News

Allison Penn, of Manhasset, NY gave birth to identical triplet boys last Wednesday. The boys were conceived through in vitro fertilization. Dr. Victor Klein implanted only one embryo which split in two, followed by one half splitting again. This is the first instance of such an occurrence known in the history of American medicine, according to the doctor.

Another extremely noteworthy statistic is that the conception and birth of identical triplets occurs in just 1 in 200 million births-doctors are calling it ?a miracle?.

The babies? parents have painted a different finger nail maroon on each baby, in order to tell the identical three apart.

The hospital where the babies were born is donating a two years? supply of diapers to the family, as it is estimated that they will go through 10,000 diapers each year.

Two of the baby boys, Eli and Colin, are doing quite well. Sadly, the third baby, Logan, may have a non-functioning kidney but is expected to be okay.

In a separate story, another set of triplets was born last week in New Jersey, to Sharon Fontana and her husband, Rich. The couple conceived naturally, after conceiving and delivering their first set of triplets just two years ago, also naturally.

Their two-year old triplets consist of two boys and a girl. Sharon thought she?d ?try for a sister? for their daughter but instead conceived another 2-boy, 1-girl set of triplets. Although there is no specific data on this type of birth, doctors say it is highly unusual. An amazing fact is that Ms. Fontana was told by doctors, when she was younger, that she was unable to have children!

The babies will come home from the hospital in three weeks. Three two-year olds and three newborns?and I thought I was busy!

Early this morning while watching a news program I saw the story of a couple who had triplets on Christmas Eve. The babies conceived through a surrogate mother was nothing new, but I was touched and amazed at the couple?s bravery as the story unfolded?revealing a sad tale of loss, hope, and renewal.

They had over the years lost their three sons in three separate accidents?unbelievable but true. The Colorado couple?s 16-year old son, Skylar was killed in a car accident, seven?year-old CJ, was hit by a car three years ago and baby Scotty died of SID (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) at only two months old. Each new born now has one of the lost son?s first names as a middle name, even the little girl.

As I listened I wondered how I would have coped with such heart-wrenching sorrow and if I would have the courage to try again. It takes great love and courage to continue day by day in the face of such tragedy.

My heart goes out to them, but I also share in their joy as they once again travel the parenting road and hope that there will only be joy this time around. As 2007 ends, I will use this story to help me to be not only a better friend, wife but the best parent I can be, and be thankful for each day.

Happy New Year.