Bethany Harris, a 22-year-old living in Milton Keynes, had an unexpected twist in her life when she discovered she was expecting triplets. At the time, she was enjoying her youthful independence and single status. However, her journey took a remarkable turn as she embraced motherhood and welcomed her beautiful children, Hope, Athena, and CJ, into the world in December 2021. Balancing her role as a single mother, Bethany also works as an on-call manager at a restaurant. Join us as we delve into Bethany's inspiring story of love, resilience, and the joys of raising triplets against all odds.
“I never planned to have 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren. My nieces and nephews were enough for me, so when I got pregnant from an accident with my partner Craig, it was a real shock. I was only 22 years old, we hadn't been together very long and we didn't plan to have a family.
I did a priʋate scan at seven weeks and the sonographer found two ƄaƄies. While she was getting over the shock of expecting twins, he found a third hidden 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦! I felt like my heart stopped. I could not believe it. I hadn't brought anyone with me to the scanner, so I had no one to talk to about it.
I texted my mom saying, 'That's THREE!' and she thought she was lying. Even when I showed her the scanned images, she still couldn't believe it. In fact, everyone I told needed to be told at least twice. I have since found out that Craig's side of the family has twins!
Bethany Harris had never planned to have 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren, but she has adjusted very well to motherhood. (Supplied) Surprise pregnancy
It was a big shock to Craig. We had never lived together and although we tried to make the relationship work in those first few weeks, we realized that we were not meant to live together. We knew we would end up feeling each other, so together we decided that even though we would be co-parents, it would be better if we weren't a couple and were apart.
At first, the thought of having triplets was completely daunting, but as the pregnancy progressed, I shifted into a 'You're going to have to deal with this' mode. Although the consultant had mentioned reducing the pregnancy to a 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 to reduce the risk of complications, she could not face that decision. There was no doubt that she would not try to give the three daughters the best chance at life.
I was lucky that I had a very easy pregnancy. Both girlfriends shared a sack, which made it riskier, but I got scanned every two weeks and all was well. I ended up in the hospital at 26 weeks, just because Hope was lying uncomfortably on my stairs, but I was fine.
Doctors couldn't believe how 'relaxed' Bethany Harris was taking her triplets (two girls and one boy) home from the hospital. (Supplied) Hard 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡
I had a scheduled C-section at 34 weeks and two days, and after the ER I had to have a transfusion due to low iron levels. But the ƄaƄies were fine and they all 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 within four minutes of each other: Athena was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 first weighing in at 4lƄs 4oz, then Hope at 4lƄs 5oz and finally Craig-junior (CJ) weighing in at 4lƄs 3oz.
The girls were given oxygen the first day and CJ ended up in intensive care for a week because her lungs were fighting and she was jaundiced. But she was out of the hospital and out of the house in three weeks.
I must be one of the lucky ones because I found life with triplets surprisingly easy. It may be my age, but I have been quite relaxed and also have a lot of support around me. Even the doctors couldn't believe how relaxed the house was taking.
For the first month and a half, I put them to sleep around 8:00 PM, then woke up at 11:00 PM and 3:00 AM to feed them, but it wasn't hard for me to go back to sleep. At first, I put them all in the same place because they didn't like being separated, but then the girls started turning over in their sleep, so I separated them all. But they settled in well.
They actually sleep really well, going to sleep around 8 pm and waking up around 6 am Although I breastfed for the first two weeks, it was too hard on all three, so I switched to formula, feeding every four hours. . CJ would be upset if she didn't have her feed after three and a half hours, but we'd try to stick to the same schedule if we could. She had a special pillow that held each bottle that helped me feed all three daughters at once, so it was more of a life saver.
Bethany Harris had never planned to have 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren, but she has adjusted very well to motherhood. (Supplied)
They were each taking four bottles a day every four hours and at around six months we started weaning them so they had a jar/bag of food between them before their 4pm bottle feed and consumed three cans of formula in about A week and a half.
The reality of raising triplets
We go through about 24 diapers a day. As the cost of living increases, I have to admit that I do worry about finances going forward, especially as they get older. When I get back to work, I'll have to consider the cost of 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥, but I'll worry about that when the time comes.
Dating and dating triplets is often hard and we haven't joined any 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 group yet. At first I had a triplet stroller that was only 5ft 5in, I got lost behind it so now I have a double stroller with another car seat attached that works fine.
Single mother Bethany Harris was grateful to have family support with her triplets. (Supplied)
I have a lot of family help. My brother and sister and their families live only 10 minutes away and my father lives just around the corner. My mother, stepbrother and other sisters live in Surrey but visit me regularly. Craig doesn't like to be away either and he comes over all the time to help. He still doesn't have enough equipment or resources in his house to have them, but he will have them. He is a very practical father.
It's crazy to think that this time last year I didn't have any ren and now I'm a member of three whose ren will have one soon. But I'm not one for regrets and I can't imagine things being any different.
