Parents of 'miracle' premature triplets celebrate first Christmas in new home

Max, Scarlett and Troy were born prematurely (Roy Donegan/PA

The parents of “miracle” triplets born prematurely earlier this year are celebrating their first Christmas in their new family home.

Laura Donegan, 39, from Reading, gave birth to Scarlett, Max and Troy on June 26 this year after her fourth attempt at IVF treatment.

The trio were born six weeks and four days early by an elective Cesarean, with Mrs Donegan requiring a transfusion after losing more than two-and-a-half litres of blood.

Roy and Laura Donegan with their triplets. Credit: Roy Donegan/PA

Despite their premature birth, the triplets and their mother were able to leave St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, after just six nights and without needing to spend any time in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Now, Mrs Donegan and her husband Roy, 39, are spending their first Christmas together as a family of five, with their triplets turning six months old on Boxing Day.

Mrs Donegan said: “During the pregnancy we just wanted them to be healthy and we were worried there might be complications.

“We were so relieved they were healthy. We definitely feel as though it was a miracle.”

The family has had support to cope with the influx of babies. Credit: Roy Donegan/PA

Accountant Mr Donegan added: “It has been a long journey to be where we are now with four rounds of IVF treatment. It got to the point where you think ‘will it ever happen?'”

Scarlett, Max and Troy, who weighed 4lb 2oz, 3lb 14oz and 3lb 8oz respectively at birth, needed feeding eight times a day for the first few months of their lives – a process that took one-and-a-half hours each time, Mr Donegan said.

Adding to the stress, the couple moved twelve weeks after the birth from their home in Brook Green, central London, to a property in Reading to be closer to their family.

The triplets were born shortly before the family moved house. Credit: Roy Donegan/PA

Mr Donegan said while the enormity of having triplets was initially a “complete overload”, they were assisted by the charity Multiple Milestones which assists parents with three or more babies.

The charity helped the couple with feeding and bathing routines, as well as supporting them on how to prepare for Mr Donegan’s eventual return to work.

The Donegans celebrated Christmas Day with six visiting family members in their new home.