Helena and Kenz’s first pregnancy joy tripled when they found out that they were going to have triplets. They share their amazing journey from pregnancy till the birth of their three boys Evanz, Enrique and Eytan Lee.
The best Chinese New Year gift
Helena:
It was around Chinese New Year (February 2011) and I was around 10 weeks pregnant when our excited doctor showed us three heartbeats on the computer during an ultrasound scan.
Our (or rather Kenz’s) initial reaction was one of disbelief. The triplets were conceived naturally and since there was no history of twins on both sides of our families, we were naturally surprised. We informed our families immediately - they shared our surprise, joy and excitement.
Finding the right hospital
Kenz:
Our first few antenatal checkups were at a private hospital in Selangor.
In the meantime, we were still looking at various options as to where Helena would deliver our babies. This was no ordinary pregnancy and we knew that apart from our need for quality medical care, we also had to take into account the cost factor as having triplets was going to be expensive. We not only had to account for the delivery cost but also for the neonatal care for prematurely-born babies, common in the cases of multiple births.
Government hospitals provide antenatal care and delivery services at minimal cost so we made trips to a few hospitals within Kuala Lumpur and Selangor such as the Universiti Malaya (UM) Hospital and their Specialist Centre (UMSC), the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKM) and Selayang Hospital.
Finally, we decided on Selayang Hospital. We felt that this was the most baby-friendly hospital (for us) and it had an impressive NICU unit.
Although Selayang Hospital is a government hospital, we chose to with a ‘full paying patient scheme’for the antenatal care. We paid more for the medical services and got to choose our medical specialist (for birth and antenatal care). We also had shorter waiting-time during our visits and got ultrasound scans every month.
These medical checkups including the scan, blood tests, medications and supplements cost us around RM60 per visit.
Three-in-one delivery
Kenz:
Carrying our triplets was hard on Helena even as early as second trimester. On doctor’s advice, we had to be extra careful and I helped to ensure Helena had a lot of bed rest with limited walking and no other strenuous activities including cooking or washing.
We were advised to prepare ourselves for an early c-section delivery. The initial estimate for delivery was at 34 weeks. However, Helena’s water bag broke at 32 weeks and she had to have an emergency caesarean.
Helena:
Our three little ‘cubbies’ (they were born in the year of the tiger) Evanz, Enrique and Eytan arrived on August 11, 2010. They were healthy with birth weights of 1.8kg, 1.6kg and 1.1kg.
It was overall a very positive birth experience as we were comfortable with the doctors and well cared for by the rest of the medical team.
Postnatal care
Kenz:
After her delivery, Helena stayed for about a week in a private room at Selayang Hospital. The whole cost for both the c-section delivery and for her week-long stay at the hospital cost us less than RM1,000.
We went back to Selayang Hospital for Helena’s postnatal check-ups twice. We also registered at a government Mother and Child Health Clinic near Petaling Jaya, Klinik Ibu Dan Anak Kampong Dato Harun, that provided free infant checkups and routine immunisations for our babies.
Helena:
I was well cared for at Selayang Hospital with plenty of encouragement and guidance on breastfeeding my triplets. Although the hospital serves vegetarian food (I am a vegetarian), I opted for home-cooked meals. All my confinement food was prepared by my mother-in-law.
My babies stayed for almost a month in the NICU unit at Selayang Hospital. It was a confined area, strictly parents only with 24-hour care. They were breastfed throughout.
Feeling blessed (three times over)
Helena:
We are indeed very tired but also very happy parents. We are also proud and see our boys as triple blessings from God.
Also, I am extremely grateful that we chose Selayang Hospital for their optimum medical care and for the fact that we didn’t have to mortgage our house to get it!
Kenz:
Selayang Hospital felt like a private hospital; everything was clean and new with plenty of warm and caring doctors and nurses.
At times, looking at my three identical boys, it almost feels surreal. I am indeed thankful that we were blessed with triplets and for Helena’s overall healthy and smooth delivery.
I do occasionally think about having twins next – girls this time!
Published in www.babycenter.com.my
The best Chinese New Year gift
Helena:
It was around Chinese New Year (February 2011) and I was around 10 weeks pregnant when our excited doctor showed us three heartbeats on the computer during an ultrasound scan.
Our (or rather Kenz’s) initial reaction was one of disbelief. The triplets were conceived naturally and since there was no history of twins on both sides of our families, we were naturally surprised. We informed our families immediately - they shared our surprise, joy and excitement.
Finding the right hospital
Kenz:
Our first few antenatal checkups were at a private hospital in Selangor.
In the meantime, we were still looking at various options as to where Helena would deliver our babies. This was no ordinary pregnancy and we knew that apart from our need for quality medical care, we also had to take into account the cost factor as having triplets was going to be expensive. We not only had to account for the delivery cost but also for the neonatal care for prematurely-born babies, common in the cases of multiple births.
Government hospitals provide antenatal care and delivery services at minimal cost so we made trips to a few hospitals within Kuala Lumpur and Selangor such as the Universiti Malaya (UM) Hospital and their Specialist Centre (UMSC), the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKM) and Selayang Hospital.
Finally, we decided on Selayang Hospital. We felt that this was the most baby-friendly hospital (for us) and it had an impressive NICU unit.
Although Selayang Hospital is a government hospital, we chose to with a ‘full paying patient scheme’for the antenatal care. We paid more for the medical services and got to choose our medical specialist (for birth and antenatal care). We also had shorter waiting-time during our visits and got ultrasound scans every month.
These medical checkups including the scan, blood tests, medications and supplements cost us around RM60 per visit.
Three-in-one delivery
Kenz:
Carrying our triplets was hard on Helena even as early as second trimester. On doctor’s advice, we had to be extra careful and I helped to ensure Helena had a lot of bed rest with limited walking and no other strenuous activities including cooking or washing.
We were advised to prepare ourselves for an early c-section delivery. The initial estimate for delivery was at 34 weeks. However, Helena’s water bag broke at 32 weeks and she had to have an emergency caesarean.
Helena:
Our three little ‘cubbies’ (they were born in the year of the tiger) Evanz, Enrique and Eytan arrived on August 11, 2010. They were healthy with birth weights of 1.8kg, 1.6kg and 1.1kg.
It was overall a very positive birth experience as we were comfortable with the doctors and well cared for by the rest of the medical team.
Postnatal care
Kenz:
After her delivery, Helena stayed for about a week in a private room at Selayang Hospital. The whole cost for both the c-section delivery and for her week-long stay at the hospital cost us less than RM1,000.
We went back to Selayang Hospital for Helena’s postnatal check-ups twice. We also registered at a government Mother and Child Health Clinic near Petaling Jaya, Klinik Ibu Dan Anak Kampong Dato Harun, that provided free infant checkups and routine immunisations for our babies.
Helena:
I was well cared for at Selayang Hospital with plenty of encouragement and guidance on breastfeeding my triplets. Although the hospital serves vegetarian food (I am a vegetarian), I opted for home-cooked meals. All my confinement food was prepared by my mother-in-law.
My babies stayed for almost a month in the NICU unit at Selayang Hospital. It was a confined area, strictly parents only with 24-hour care. They were breastfed throughout.
Feeling blessed (three times over)
Helena:
We are indeed very tired but also very happy parents. We are also proud and see our boys as triple blessings from God.
Also, I am extremely grateful that we chose Selayang Hospital for their optimum medical care and for the fact that we didn’t have to mortgage our house to get it!
Kenz:
Selayang Hospital felt like a private hospital; everything was clean and new with plenty of warm and caring doctors and nurses.
At times, looking at my three identical boys, it almost feels surreal. I am indeed thankful that we were blessed with triplets and for Helena’s overall healthy and smooth delivery.
I do occasionally think about having twins next – girls this time!
Published in www.babycenter.com.my
