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Home / Bay of Plenty Times

House bursting with third set of twins on way

Bay of Plenty Times
23 Jun, 2010 10:43 PM3 mins to read

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When most mums-to-be go for their first scan, they wait for the sonographer to tell them what the image means.
But Papamoa mum Tressa Simonsen, 31, was the one declaring the news before the scan became clear - "I know it's twins!"
Tressa is already mum to two sets of twins -
Sharaz and Shaqiel, 10, and Daklan and Darius, 22 months.
So when Tressa unexpectedly fell pregnant again, she had a feeling that once again, it was twins.
The chances of having three sets of twins is only 1 in 500,000.
But as Tressa said, she does not know motherhood any other way.
"I'd be lost if it was one. I feel I'm very blessed. There's never a dull moment in this house.
"I just took it in my stride thinking 'wow'. It didn't really hit me. The bigger I'm getting, the more it does."
Tressa has never used fertility drugs, and was not even trying for a baby. Her obstetrician told her she was "naturally fertile".
All three sets of twins are fraternal, which means they are not identical and come from two separate eggs. Identical twins happen when an egg splits.
Like her other two sets of twins, Tressa's new babies are boys.
Tressa is 26 weeks' pregnant, and the babies are due on September 25. But she knows they could come at any time.
"The first set I had at 32 weeks, but the second set were only nine days off full term.
"That's a big difference. I don't know which way I'm going to go this time."
An only child, Tressa always said she wanted lots of children.
"Be careful what you wish for." she said. "They are very lucky. I tell them all the time 'you are lucky to have each other, Mum only had herself as an only child'."
While delighted at her surprise pregnancy, Tressa is worried about the financial stress of coping with six children, and having four under the age of 3.
She has given away all her baby gear, as she was not expecting a pregnancy, and intends to return to work as a caregiver this year.
She doesn't even have cots, as Daklan and Darius sleep in bed with her, although she has two bassinets.
Tressa needs "everything", but her biggest concerns are cots, car seats, and a special double pram which can hold all four boys. She also needs a set of drawers, so she can put away clothing she has been given.
Tressa and her partner Wiremu Kokiri are also desperately seeking a bigger house to rent, as their home is already bursting at the seams. Mr Kokiri is also looking for work.
"I'm thinking I'm going to have [to keep] these babies in the lounge. I haven't got any room in my bedroom for them. It's very overwhelming and stressful."
Tressa suffers from fibromyalgia and carpal tunnel, which give her pain in her muscles and joints, and "permanent pins and needles".
TWIN FACTS
* Women who have had non-identical twins are four times more likely to conceive twins again.
* The odds of having three sets of twins is 1 in 500,000.
* Work and Income New Zealand offers home help for multiple births if the parent has another child under the age of 5.
- Source: Work and Income NZ, TwinsTwice.com and Wellington Multiple Birth Club

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