SHARJAH // Two sets of triplets have been born on the same day at Al Qassimi hospital.
An Iranian woman and an Emirati gave birth on Monday night, said Dr Arif Al Noryani, the hospital’s chief executive.
The Iranian, Sheikha Al Mukhtari, 30, is a new mum to three girls, while the Emirati mother, who preferred not be identified, gave birth to two girls and a boy.
“Our staff were busy on Monday night helping the two women have their children safely and, thanks to Allah, this was achieved,” said Dr Al Noryani. “All the children are safe, although one Iranian girl is still in the neo-natal intensive care unit, but her condition is stable.”
He said it was the first time two sets of triplets had been delivered at the hospital on the same day.
Naeema Khamis Al Nakhi, the hospital’s social worker, said both couples were overjoyed.
“For both couples it was to be their first child and God awarded them with triplets. The babies were in both cases conceived naturally.”
Sheikha is due to stay in hospital for another three to four days to allow her third baby to gain weight and strength.
The new mum said she and her husband were thrilled to be first-time parents to three daughters, enough to make an entire family.
“We were both overjoyed to be having an instant family, the triplets were our first and we see our girls as triple blessings from God,” she said.
Fareed Al Din, 33, her husband, shared his wife’s joy. “Alhamdulillah! They are all as beautiful as their mother,” he said.
The couple have not yet chosen names for their daughters.
According to a British-based parent support website, twinsuk.co.uk, the odds of having multiple births are about 1.5 in 100. In 2010 in Britain, 186 triplets were born out of 12,546 multiple births.
The health risks for both mother and babies are significantly higher, with premature labour and low-birth weight the main concerns.
Fareed said he and his wife learnt they were having triplets seven months into the pregnancy when their doctor showed them three heartbeats on an ultrasound scan.
The couple “went mad with happiness” and have no worries despite the hurdles having multiple children can present because “God will see us through”.
“I want the best for them in this world – the best future, the best profession,” said Fareed. “Let them be doctors, engineers, lawyers, all that is good I want it for them and pray that God gives it to them.”
ykakande@thenational.ae
