A middle-aged couple has welcomed triplets into the world after four heartbreaking miscarriages and spending roughly US$15,000 (11,300 pound sterlings) on IVF.
Leonie Fitzgerald, a business owner from Brisbane, Australia, became a mom to three perfect girls at the ripe age of 44. She refused to give up hope despite being diagnosed with low progesterone, which led to four devastating miscarriages.
But Leonie and her husband, Peter, 51, took a leap of faith and tried for a baby one more time with the help of IVF in January 2020.
The couple became proud parents on Aug. 23 last year as they welcomed their triplets: baby Charlotte, weighing 4 pounds 2 ounces (approx. 1.87 kg), and identical twins Liliana and Isabella, weighing 2 pounds 6 ounces (approx. 1.07 kg) and 3 pounds 5 ounces (approx. 1.5 kg) respectively.
“We spent almost six years trying for a baby and it was devastating to say the least," Leonie said.
“It took nearly three years for me to fall pregnant naturally at 41, we were elated but our joy soon turned to sorrow when I miscarried at 13 weeks.”
“We decided IVF was our only option and were filled with faith again. You never expect it not to work until it doesn’t.
“I miscarried three more times, once with IVF and twice naturally. Our dreams of becoming parents were slipping away.”
Leonie describes her journey to motherhood as a “lonely experience” as miscarriage is a “taboo” subject.
After the second round of IVF, Leonie quit her highly stressful job and started her own business in property investment and wealth.
Adoption wasn’t an option for the couple as the waiting list is five years—they felt they’d be “too old.”
Despite spending approximately 55,000 pound sterlings (US$75,000) on acupuncturists, herbalists, and many more healers and specialists—the couple had no baby joy.
Leonie said: “We began to accept being parents weren’t meant to be until I saw a physic who predicted I was going to have twins.
“It was our third and final round of IVF and it worked.”
Recalling the moment when the ultrasound revealed three heartbeats, Leonie said: “It was definitely third time lucky. I remember we looked at each other and smiled.”
“I spent the following week walking around like a zombie as I was in total shock. But we believe you get what you need, rather than what you want in life,” she said.
“We had to upsize our home from a three-bed to five bed. And buy an eight-seater car!”
Leonie admitted feeling “terrified” in case she lost the babies due to her age.
She spent most of the pregnancy on bed rest due to severe morning sickness before giving birth at 32 weeks and six days.
However, the labor wasn’t plain sailing as Leonie was put into an induced coma for 16 hours after a seizure and increased heart rate.
The triplets spent 34 days in NICU before heading home with their besotted parents.
Leonie said: “I felt pretty disconnected from them as I didn’t get the first cuddle. But we bonded as I sat by their sides whilst they were in NICU.
“Peter and I haven’t grown up around children so all we knew was from the amazing nurses. It was surreal taking them home—we didn’t know where to start.”
“They were going through 10 nappies per day and 24 bottles a day at the very start. Sometimes, we have to have 1,000 nappies in the house at a time,” she said.
“We are fortunate enough to have a nanny who comes four days a week—and help from our family and friends.”
Despite a hectic household, the couple couldn’t be happier. They’ve learned to be super organized and to never waste time.
“I wouldn’t change our busy lives for the world,” she said.
