All I want for Christmas is...triplets

Release date: 17/12/2008

History has repeated itself for Bronson and Kirstie Clarke with the arrival of their ‘instant family’ at Mater Mothers’ Hospitals on 28 November, triplets Chelsea, Jade and Rhianna.

History has repeated itself for Bronson and Kirstie Clarke with the arrival of their "instant family" at Mater Mothers’ Hospitals on 28 November, triplets Chelsea, Jade and Rhianna.

Twenty-seven years ago, Kirstie’s triplet brothers—Mark, Craig and David Bailey—arrived on 23 November 1981 at 33 weeks and went home from Mater Mothers’ just in time for Christmas Eve.

The naturally-conceived Clarke triplets, born at 34 weeks and one day, are set to go home when they each reach 2kg. With just grams to go for Rhianna, the smallest of the three, a pre-Christmas check out is imminent.

“Bronson and I are elated to have the girls home before Christmas. Thanks to the outstanding help from all the midwives and nurses at Mater Mothers’, we’re so happy to have an instant and complete family,” new mum Kirstie Clarke said.

Acting Director Maternal Fetal Medicine Dr Glenn Gardener, who oversaw the delivery of the triplets, said the result was a wonderful one for such a high risk pregnancy.

“The team at Mater Mothers’ provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for high risk multiple pregnancies—from the subspecialists, sonographers and midwives, to the nurses, neonatologists and allied health staff—it was truly a combined effort to get the Clarke triplets home before Christmas,” Dr Gardener said.

The similarities don’t end there. Both sets of triplets are made up of identical twins and a singleton and were due for delivery just days apart on 6 January 1982 and 9 January 2009 respectively.

The girls’, whose birth weights were 1830g (Chelsea), 2020g (Jade) and 1700g (Rhianna), are currently being cared for in Mater Mothers’ Hospitals' Neonatal Critical Care Unit.

Media opportunity

The Clarke triplets "rooming in" at Mater Mothers’ Hospitals with proud parents Bronson and Kirstie Clarke. Acting Director Maternal Fetal Medicine, Dr Glenn Gardener is also available for interview.

When: Thursday, 18 December 2008
Time: 11:00am
Where: Meet at Mater Mothers’ Hospitals concourse, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact Mater Public Affairs:
Raegen Purse, Senior Public Affairs Officer, Ph: 07 3163 3495 or 0402 069 828