Queensland triplets Aiden, Elaina and Clay Davey are gearing up for their first day at Birkdale State School, as their parents come to terms with a “much quieter” household.
Born 11 weeks early at Mater Mothers’ Hospital on August 6, 2017 and weighing not much more than 1kg each, the now healthy and thriving five-year-olds are ready to start school on 23 January for the first time.
Parents Lorren and Sam Davey said they were “a little nervous” about the triplets starting prep.
“Their shoes have been bought, lunchboxes are labelled and now we have to just get them out the door,” Mrs Davey, 40, said.
“I am already in tears thinking about it because they have come such a long way from their time in hospital.”
The trio, who have a younger sister, Mikayla, 2, were born at just over 29 weeks gestation and spent more than 75 days receiving around-the-clock care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at South Brisbane’s Mater Mothers’ Hospital.
Arriving within a minute of each other, Aiden (1125g) was born at 10.16am, Elaina (1040g) at 10.17am and Clay (1000g) at 10.18am.
One in five Queensland babies are born at a Mater Mothers’ hospital and Mrs Davey said she couldn’t thank Mater enough for saving her three pint-sized miracles.
Mater Mothers’ has one of Australia’s largest Neonatal Critical Care Units, providing compassionate and holistic care to seriously ill and premature babies
“The staff helped us every step of the way. Having multiples is a stressful experience especially when they are born with breathing difficulties,” Mrs Davey said.
Mrs Davey said following a routine scan at 25 weeks into her pregnancy, doctors detected an abnormality with her pregnancy.
“I was put on bedrest as I could go into labour at any time with my cervix shortening,” she said.
“I was on bedrest for four weeks before my babies were born. I was given steroids to slow the labour, which helped. Nothing could prepare me for what was to come.”
Mrs Davey said the triplets had some breathing difficulties when they were born, with Elaina having to be resuscitated, but all three are “kicking goals” now.
She said the triplets each had their own personalities, with Clay being the cautious sibling.
“Clay is the youngest of the trio and he’s my baby. He probably won’t talk to anyone on the first day of school, he’ll just watch on,” she said.
“Elaina is a typical girl. She’s a typical princess – she’s very vivacious. I am not used to a five-year-old telling me what to do.
“Aiden, well he’s a worry wart. He bosses the other two around and he’s our most inquisitive child and will ask a thousand questions.
“I think the triplets will love school and will be excited about learning new things together as they are in the same class.”
