A New South Wales mum who gave birth to triplets seven weeks early – the smallest of whom weighed just 1kg – will spend Mother’s Day with her ‘little miracles’ in the Neonatal Critical Care Unit at Brisbane’s Mater Mothers’ Hospital.
Little Lilliana, Robert and Primrose Holcroft were a ‘sweet surprise’ for mum Brooke Holcroft, who had planned to enjoy a quiet Mother’s Day at her home in Casuarina, Tweed Shire, with her two older children Henry (5) and Freddie (2) before the triplets’ June due date.
But following their early birth, Mrs Holcroft has had to relocate more than 110km from her NSW home to be closer to her newborns in Brisbane while they receive round-the-clock care.
“This Mother’s Day will be hard having to split my time between my older boys, who have been staying with my husband back home, and the babies in hospital,” Mrs Holcroft said.
“It’s going to be an emotional day – but I am so grateful the little ones are here safe and healthy.
“I will have breakfast with Henry and Freddie and spend the afternoon with the triplets.”
The naturally conceived triplets were born via an emergency caesarean at Mater Mothers’ Hospital in South Brisbane on 24 April, with Lilliana arriving first at 8.02am and weighing 2kg, followed by Robert at 8.05am, weighing 2.3kg.
The youngest of the siblings, Primrose, was born one minute later, weighing a tiny 1kg.
Mrs Holcroft, 39, experienced a miscarriage last year and said she felt blessed to hold not one, but three babies in her arms on Mother’s Day.
“My husband Max and I always wanted a big family. We were hoping for a girl, and what a surprise we got!” Mrs Holcroft said.
“They are our rainbow babies, and we are so grateful they are here, even if it was much earlier than expected.”
The triplets were born at 33 weeks’ and three days’ gestation after doctors identified problems in Primrose’s umbilical cord flow and Mrs Holcroft developed preeclampsia.
“Mater saved the lives of my little babies and that is one of the best Mother’s Day gifts I could have asked for,” she said.
“I am looking forward to the triplets getting bigger and stronger so we can start a new chapter at home together.
“I am also looking forward to shopping sprees, which have already started,” she laughed.
She said the pint-sized trio had different personalities and described Robert as the “super chilled” and most relaxed of the siblings.
“Primrose is the smallest but feistiest and will be running the show when she is older, while Lilliana is relaxed and cute,” she said.
Mater Director of Neonatology Dr Pita Birch about 70 to 80 babies would join Lilliana, Robert and Primrose in celebrating Mother’s Day this year in the Neonatal Critical Care Unit.
