In a truly astonishing twist of fate during the 1960s, Bethany Smith, unaware of her pregnancy, found herself delivering not one but three bundles of joy.
At the age of 26, Bethany Smith, a resident of Burton, Staffordshire, and her 38-year-old partner, Kay Singh, were taken by surprise when their family expanded on April 4 with the arrival of daughters Kiren and Kirit, and son Arjan. Bethany, juggling roles as a student teacher and part-time hairdresser, was already a mother to Reuben (seven), Pria (six), and Mari (four). Interestingly, the couple had not actively sought to grow their family, as Bethany had an intrauterine device (I.U.D) in place.
The I.U.D, also known as a coil, is a small T-shaped contraceptive device fitted into the womb by a doctor or nurse. It releases copper, creating a hostile environment for sperm, hindering their ability to reach an egg and survive. This contraceptive method is designed to prevent pregnancy for a duration ranging from five to 10 years.
Bethany and Kay, both without a history of multiple births in their families, were truly stunned to learn that they were expecting triplets. The trio made their entrance into the world prematurely at 31 weeks, at the Royal Derby Hospital. However, their fragile lungs necessitated immediate placement on ventilators. This critical situation led to the heartbreaking separation of the couple from their newborns at birth. Due to the heightened risk posed by COVID-19, Bethany and Kay were unable to see their trio for several days, adding an extra layer of complexity to the already extraordinary circumstances.
Arjan, weighing 3lb 5oz, Kiren at 3lb 4oz, and Kirit at 3lb 9oz, faced a challenging start, spending three weeks in the hospital. The difficulties continued for Bethany as she recounted the ordeal to The Derby Telegraph, saying, “It was truly horrendous. I couldn’t see the girls for the first two days as they required breathing assistance. With only one parent allowed to visit each day, we had to don masks, gowns, and gloves. The experience was very surreal and far from what you would imagine. The usual excitement of welcoming a baby was overshadowed by the impact of COVID-19. We couldn’t engage in the typical joys of new parenthood.”
At 26 weeks, Bethany faced a scare when she went into premature labor and was urgently transported to a hospital in London, where fortunately, medical intervention successfully halted the labor. Following their birth, the trio spent an additional three weeks in the hospital before finally being permitted to go home. Recalling the emotional journey, Kay expressed the heartbreak of seeing the triplets taken to intensive care immediately after birth, forcing him and Bethany to visit them separately.
He confessed, “We couldn’t even kiss them, and that was incredibly challenging. These past few weeks have been truly difficult and stressful.” Kay described the triplets as “absolute miracles,” emphasizing the uncertainty surrounding their survival at birth. He remarked, “It was touch and go whether they would even survive the birth. Now, they’ve come into the world amidst this pandemic.” Encouragingly, the triplets are reported to be making remarkable progress.