A woman who suffered a devastating miscarriage after trying for a baby for four years vowed a second round of IVF would be her last before giving birth to ‘miracle’ triplets.
Niketa Bell, 25, struggled to fall pregnant after her husband Mark, 30, discovered a congenital defect meant it would be difficult to have children naturally.
However, after a number of unsuccessful years, the couple sought IVF treatment.
Niketa Bell, 25, fell pregnant with triplets after vowing a second round of IVF would be her last
Niketa fell pregnant after the first round but the couple’s joy quickly turned to despair after she suffered a miscarriage at 12 weeks in May 2018.
She initially refused a second round of IVF because of the emotion and trauma both her and Mark had already suffered.
But not giving up hope, she plucked up the courage to give it one last shot and fell pregnant again in September last year.
Niketa and her husband Mark, 30, say they feel ‘totally blessed’ after giving birth to triplets
Niketa said: ‘I always said I would never go through IVF again because of how hard it was.
‘It is tough and emotional.
‘After the first round I told Mark I never really wanted to go through with it again.
‘It took such a toll on my body with the drugs and everything else.
Lola Frances was first born, weighing 3lbs, followed by her identical twin brothers Jacob Douglas and Tommy James, who weighed 3lb 8oz and 3lb 10oz respectively
‘I was so emotional, it was a whirlwind of emotions.
‘I decided to do it but told myself it would be the final time, that this was the final chance.’
Amazingly, the couple, from Carlisle, Cumbria, discovered they had been blessed with not one but three tiny ‘miracles’ – and now have everything they ever wanted.
They welcomed their children – Lola, Jacob and Tommy – into the world eight weeks early by emergency caesarean section at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary on April 7.
Niketa and her husband Mark, 30, (pictured) had been trying for a baby for four years before they suffered a devastating miscarriage
Lola Frances was first born, weighing just 3lbs, followed by her identical twin brothers Jacob Douglas and Tommy James, who weighed 3lb 8oz and 3lb 10oz respectively.
They were transferred to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough and were initially cared for at the Cumberland Infirmary’s Special Care Baby Unit.
But photos taken on Thursday (May 2) last week show the triplets at home for the first time after being discharged from hospital.
Niketa, who works as a healthcare assistant at Cumberland Infirmary, said: ‘It didn’t sink in until I actually saw them in the incubator and I thought, “they are mine. We are finally a mam and dad.”
The babies stayed in an incubator for the first few weeks of their life, but are now well and at home with their parents
‘Me and my husband have been totally blessed.’
The couple began trying for a baby four years ago but quickly discovered that complications because of Mark’s congenital defect – he only has one ejaculatory duct [vas deferens] instead of two – would affect their ability to have children.
They sought help from a local GP and were referred for IVF treatment although Niketa was told she would need to lose weight to be eligible.
Niketa fell pregnant in March last year but suffered the heartbreak of losing the couple’s first baby at 12 weeks.
‘It was devastating, we had the opportunity and finally got there but it was got taken away from us,’ she added.
‘I fell pregnant again in September last year. I said to Mark that I felt different this time and had a feeling I was having twins.
Mark said it took him 24 hours to truly believe his wife Niketa was pregnant with triplets and said they’re still pinching themselves now
‘My mam came with me and the consultant turned the screen to me and I saw these three sacks which were empty.
‘I then saw three heartbeats and my mam says my face just dropped.’
Mark, a driver for Wm Armstrong, was making a delivery when Niketa rang to tell him the news. She said he had better switch off the engine.
‘It took me about 24 hours to believe her. I just didn’t believe it,’ said Mark, 30, who added they are still pinching themselves.
‘When we went to bed the other night and turned and said to her “you do realise we have three kids now?” You still nip yourself.
‘We have got everything we ever wanted. Words can’t describe it if I’m honest with you, it’s like a dream and you keep thinking you will wake up.
‘You know they are home and safe now, they were totally fine in the hospital but you just never know when they are hooked up to the machines.
‘They were discharged at about 12pm on Thursday. Niketa is totally fine, you would think she had been a mother for about 10 years the way she has taken to it.’