A COUPLE who tried for more than a year to conceive a baby have spoken of their joy after having identical triplet girls.

Stephanie Latcham and Michael Gough were about to begin IVF treatment when they found out they were expecting a baby.

An initial early scan showed one pregnancy sac, a second scan showed two sacs and a third scan showed three.

The pair, who live in Ferryhill, naturally conceived triplets which were born weighing 3lbs each on March 30, this year.

Miss Latcham said: “I had previously had miscarriages and I suffer with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) so after a year-and-a-half of trying I thought we would never have a baby.

The Northern Echo:

“We had just got back from holiday and I did a pregnancy test and it was positive, I started screaming and ran to show Michael. I couldn’t believe it.”

Mr Gough said: “After the second scan when we thought it was twins we told some family and friends. We were so excited, we’d been trying for ages to have a baby and we were going to have two.

“Then we had another scan and they told us it was three. We couldn’t believe it. Both of us were in shock I think.

“Everything changes when you go from two to three. Prams, bouncers, bottles, everything.”

The triplets, Ollia-Anna, Brianna and Isabella, were born at 30-weeks via emergency c-section at Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary where they stayed for ten weeks.

The couple had just picked up keys for their new home when Miss Latcham’s waters broke that evening.

Miss Latcham added: “I had weekly scans to make sure everything was ok and they just kept saying they were growing perfectly. I had no issues during my pregnancy and even when they were born they were only on oxygen for two days.

“It is really hard and it is stressful but we have a good routine going and lots of help and support from our family.”

After a week in hospital Miss Latcham returned home to her son, Zach, six, to help Mr Gough prepare for their daughters coming out of hospital.

Mr Gough added: “The statistics on having identical triplet girls are something like one in 200 million.

“I’d never even changed a nappy before we had our girls so it’s all new to me but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

“They are our little miracles.”