Born Together…But Conceived Weeks Apart

Jolene Broad’s triplets are extra special. Here, she shares her daughters’ incredible story…

- Kristina Beanland and Lucy Laing

When I take my girls out for a stroll in their pram, I’m always stopped by passers-by. I can’t blame them – I know the sight of my triplets, with their matching blonde hair and blue eyes, is unusual. But the strangers cooing and fussing over my daughters don’t realise how special they truly are…

My husband Toby and I had been together for three years when we started trying for a baby in February 2014. Living on a farm, we couldn’t wait to watch our son or daughter run around in muddy boots.

At 35 years old, I was convinced it would take time to conceive. Only, just under a month later, I started feeling strange, so I bought a pregnancy test. As I waited for the result, I was sure it couldn’t be this easy. Minutes later, the positive result appeared and I stood, speechless, the tears filling my eyes. When I told Toby, he was overjoyed.

As a first-time mum, I had no idea what to expect. But, every day, I’d stare at my bump in the mirror, and be stunned by how big I was getting. And, I was so exhausted I could barely focus to make a cup of tea.

So, when the date of our 20-week scan arrived in July, I was eager to make sure everything was OK. As the sonographer smoothed the scanner over my stomach, she looked confused. ‘Did you have IVF?’ she asked. I shook my head. ‘Do you have a history of triplets in your family?’

It was then that my heart started to pound. I looked down at my huge tummy – was it possible? Could I really be having three babies? As the sonographer smiled, I knew it was true. I was having triplets. Immediately, I locked eyes with Toby, his face white with shock, and burst into tears. How were we going to cope?