The 'miracle' triplets born TWO YEARS apart

A mother has given birth to 'miracle'  triplets that were conceived at the same time but born in different years. Katie Preston and her husband Matthew underwent IVF after trying unsuccessfully to start a family for five years.As part of the treatment, they had six embryos created - and Ethan, Isabel and Arthur Preston were all conceived at the same time.

But Isabel and Arthur were born in December - two years and five days after Ethan. 

This is because one embryo - Ethan - was implanted in 2011, and another two, that had originally been frozen, were implanted in 2012.  

 

  

Ethan, Isabel and Arthur were made as part of six embryos created when parents underwent IVF treament. Their parents call them their 'miracle triplets'

Mrs Preston, a cashier at William Hill, said: 'They are our three little miracles.

'December is a busy time for the Preston family now - but we wouldn't have it any other way.

'They keep me busy, and are certainly a handful.'But we feel complete and adore our triplets.'

The couple, both 28, tried for a family for five years before discovering they only had a one per cent chance of conceiving as Mr Preston has a low sperm count.

Mrs Preston said their lack of success at becoming pregnant began to take its toll emotionally.

'I would see a woman with a pram in the street and would go home and cry,' she said.

'Many of my family and friends were having families, and we just thought it would never happen for us.

'I used to blame myself, and Matthew would blame himself - we were at rock bottom.'

The pair were referred to Midland Fertility for treatment with NHS funding in 2011.

They underwent the ICSI procedure, also known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection, where a single sperm is injected directly into an egg to help fertilisation

'We gave everything to it - it was our whole focus,' said Mrs Preston.

'As a couple it can make or break you, and it can be very stressful at times.

'But the support I got from Matthew was amazing.'

Six embryos were created in the IVF process, and one was transferred into Mrs Preston's uterus.

The couple then faced an agonising two-week wait before they could carry out a pregnancy test.

Mrs Preston said: 'I did a test secretly, and slightly early, which was negative so I really didn't think the treatment had worked.

'On the actual test date I was shaking. When two lines appeared – showing I was pregnant - I sat daydreaming about what our future held.

'Matthew was asleep at the time, but I woke him and told him we were pregnant.

'We phoned the clinic as we wanted them to be the first to know. They made our dreams come true.'

After a complicated pregnancy Ethan arrived just before Christmas in 2012.

But it wasn't until he was a few weeks old that Mrs Preston said she really felt like a mother.

'People talk about that 'magical moment' holding your baby for the first time. I thought I was odd because I didn't feel it. I just didn't believe he was mine.

'It wasn't until a few weeks later the emotion hit me, and I felt that magic.'

Mr and Mrs Preston then had to decide what to do with their remaining frozen embryos.

'We just couldn't discard them after the effort and dedication that went into creating them, so we decided to use them,' Mr Preston said.

All embryos survived the thaw and the two very best were once more transferred to Mrs Preston's uterus.

She said: 'To our surprise at our first pregnancy scan, we saw not one, but two little heartbeats.'

'We think of our three children both as twins and a big brother, and as triplets.

'At the moment Ethan is going through the terrible twos, and the babies are only three months old.

 

Mrs Preston says Ethan loves helping to look after his brother and sister, and kisses them goodnight. Mrs Preston said: 'We feel truly blessed

But I know when they are older they will all have a special bond as triplets.

'Ethan loves helping me look after them, and kissing them goodnight.

'While Isabel is a typical woman, and is in charge of the boys.

'Arthur is really chilled out and loves watching Ethan around the house. We feel truly blessed.'

Dr Gillian Lockwood, medical director of Midland Fertility added: 'Katie and Matthew had one funded treatment cycle, two pregnancies and three babies.

'Not all patients have such straightforward treatment, but, their story gives hope to many couples who are concerned about starting IVF.'