TWENTY-year-old mother gives birth to healthy triplets…the usual highlight that captures the attention of the average person, but for the young mother, Latoya Mitchell, there is another story to be told – the one that tells of a trying pregnancy term, her successful delivery, and the future she sees for her babies.

The middle child- the happiest of the lot it seems, followed the youngest of the three and then eldest of the three

“When I did an ultrasound at three months and found out I was getting triplets I was excited, but it was a hard term to carry,” said the first-time mother.
Mitchell shared her story with the Chronicle when this newspaper visited her at the Maternity Ward at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Mother and babies are resting comfortably in the section designated for cesarean cases.

The boy and two girls were born on Wednesday last. The girls, identical, came at 10:28 hrs, weighing 2.25 kilogrammes; and 10:29 hrs, with 2.03 kilogrammes; while the boy, weighing 2.9 kilogrammes, followed at 10:30 hrs.

Mitchell, who lives in Kitty, Georgetown, recalled that up to the first six months her pregnancy was manageable.

She said, “At six months I had a really big belly…There were many sleepless nights, but I am happy I was able to deliver healthy babies.”

The young mother remembered that a “big scare” during her pregnancy came when the doctors told her she would need a ‘caesarean section’ and would not be able to carry her babies to full term.

“That really frightened me. The doctors said at 37 weeks they would have to do the C-section (caesarean section), but the babies came a week in front. The doctors said they were full term though. I was happy for that,” she affirmed.

20-year-old latoya Mitchell with her three bundles of joy

Mitchell added that the caesarean section went well since she was able to be up and about in a day’s time.

She observed that her children were lucky as they did not need incubators, which is almost a requisite feature of caesarean deliveries, especially with multiple births.

“They are healthy,” she enthused, “They have clear skin, because I used a lot of fruits and drank a lot of milk and things like that.”

Proudly glancing at her three bundles of joy, Mitchell recalled that when the triplets started moving it was uncomfortable since they were “all over my belly.”

However, she said everyone else around her was ecstatic to feel the babies move.

“It hurt a little sometimes but I was happy because I knew they were alive and things would be okay…God is in charge and all is well,” the young mother declared.

Relative to the support network that she has, Mitchell maintained that she would be able to take care of the children in light of the strong support she has received from family, friends and well wishers who donated items in kind to assist her with caring for the babies.

“I don’t see any difficulty in taking care of them,” she affirmed.

The young mother added that the triplets are a blessing and, as a mother, the only thing she wishes is for her children to grow up happy, healthy and productive individuals.

“I want to live long enough to see them do good things with their life,” she said.

Mitchell’s caesarean section was the 278th performed at the GPHC for the year. Records from the institution show that, for this year, including the triplets, a total of 1,466 babies were birthed there. Of that number, there were 10 sets of twins. 

A statement from the GPHC said: “The competent nurses and doctors at the Maternity Unit continue to work assiduously to assist in bringing strong, healthy newborns into our country.”