One of the most common questions I’ve heard/read lately is some variation of, “How did you end up with triplets?”
It’s no secret that Rob and I have been undergoing fertility treatments with a reproductive endocrinologist. For the Cliff’s Notes, my medical/protocol history is in the About section.
I don’t ovulate on my own, so I was taking fertility drugs to stimulate follicle growth.
What’s a follicle?
Ovaries house eggs. Before ovulation occurs, a follicle grows from the ovary and contains an egg. When the egg reaches a mature stage, the follicle bursts and releases the egg – ovulation.
The team of doctors I see closely monitored me to insure I didn’t overproduce follicles – aka how Jon & Kate became plus 8 and how Octomom got her tentacles.
On cycle day 10 of the triplets’ cycle, my right ovary was growing two follicles, and my left – which had never produced a mature follicle – was growing one. When I returned for monitoring on cycle day 12, only the two on my right ovary measured to maturity. The one on my left was too small.
So we expected two eggs to release, giving us the possibility of twins.
When my doctor discovered Baby C during the first ultrasound, Rob and I weren’t the only ones who were shocked. She checked back over my chart to see how many follicles they had me marked for, and, sure enough, the chart said two. After some poking around, she found what she was pretty sure was an ovulation cyst (once the follicle bursts, a cyst is left behind – it eventually shrinks).
Lefty snuck one in on us. My left ovary has always been hard to find – I don’t know if it’s just positioned weird or what – but she said that’s why they might have missed that follicle.
Of course, there’s always the slim chance that one egg split, but that isn’t something we’ll know for some time (if ever)*.
So, there you go. That’s how we (supposedly) ended up with triplets. I have a sneaky ninja ovary and a sneaky ninja baby.
* Edited to add: Since all three babies are in separate gestational sacs, the only way for us to know if two are identical is by DNA testing once they’re born. It’s a slim chance, but it’s possible. After all, I was only supposed to ovulate two eggs and might have popped out three.
I love your ninja baby!
Thanks for explaining how that all works in a nice, easy to understand blurb!
Do people really ask such a personal question? It seems to me asking about triplets is still in the vein of “tell me about your sex life” since no matter what kind of treatment you used we’re still talking vaginas and sperm.
Oooooo…If one egg split, is there a chance you’ll have identical twins + 1 other baby? You think you get a lot of questions NOW, just imagine explaining that to forty bazillion strangers!
Suzanne – of COURSE people ask that! Reality TV has made reality a free-for-all for curious questions. I don’t really mind, though.
That’s a really cute way of telling the story. Yay for ninja whatever
“pair and a spare” are pretty common with triplets. you never know! well, i mean, you can know, obviously. maybe they’ll all have different blood types so you won’t have to shell out for the testing. 😀
I think it’s awesome that you’re so knowledgeable about all that’s happening with your body (as well as P, B, & J of course) and can still manage to be so witty.
I think that God put them there. No matter how. Anyone else that wants to know more than that…they can shove it! ‘
(YAY TRIPLETS!)
NinjA ovaries and ninja baby – I see some nicknames printed on onesies in the future for the baby to wear, huh? I think that regardless of how it all went down it’s amazing. Scary I know, but amazing. I am so excited for you and hope you and the ninja and his/her siblings are having a great week!
My guess is that they are all fraternal. I guess once you find out (if you decide to find out) the sexes of the babies, you’ll have a better idea of if they are all identical. How exciting! That little sneaky ninja baby will never live it down!
No matter how it happened, I am absolutely thrilled for you! How exciting, scary and mind boggling it all is! One baby is a miracle and you have three! I’m looking forward to reading about your progress as well as theirs and looking forward to saying, “Happy Birthday!” times three!!!
stop by when you can, I have an award for you on my blog
(whatwouldjendo.com)