Couple told they were infertile left in ‘total shock’ after naturally conceiving identical triplets

A couple who were set to go ahead with IVF to have a second child have become proud parents of three identical triplets.

Lina Sapia, 35, from Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, beat the staggering one in 200 million odds by naturally conceiving the babies – something she thought wasn’t possible after needing IVF to conceive her firstborn Alba, one.

The stay-at-home mother and her husband Fabio, 37, wanted to extend their family and planned on using one of their four frozen embryos – but were pleasantly surprised to find two lines on a pregnancy test in September 2019.

At their six week scan, the couple were left in ‘total shock’ when their midwife detected three heartbeats.

Lina Sapia and her husband Fabio were set to go ahead with IVF to have a second child – but became proud parents to three naturally conceived identical triplets (pictured along with their sister Alba)

Lina said: ‘We were trying for three years before we decided to have IVF with Alba, which was successful first time.

‘We always knew we wanted to have another baby and assumed we would need to go through IVF again after being diagnosed with unexplained infertility.

‘I experienced a second miscarriage three months prior to discovering I was pregnant with triplets in September. I didn’t get my hopes up as I feared it may happen again.

‘We booked in for an early scan at six weeks to check the baby was healthy and the nurse kept asking me questions such as, “Have I been feeling sick?”

Lina beat the staggering one in 200 million odds by naturally conceiving the babies - something she thought wasn't possible after needing IVF to conceive her firstborn

Lina beat the staggering one in 200 million odds by naturally conceiving the babies – something she thought wasn’t possible after needing IVF to conceive her firstborn

The stay-at-home mother wanted to extend their family and planned on using one of their four frozen embryos - but was pleasantly surprised to find two lines on a pregnancy test in September 2019. Pictured with the triplets at hospital during lockdown

The stay-at-home mother wanted to extend their family and planned on using one of their four frozen embryos – but was pleasantly surprised to find two lines on a pregnancy test in September 2019. Pictured with the triplets at hospital during lockdown

‘I said no but I did feel slightly bigger than before – I constantly looked bloated, like I had eaten a huge plate of pasta.

‘She went to get a second opinion and said, “There’s more than one heartbeat,” so we assumed two – not three!

‘We were in total shock and couldn’t believe it – Fabio, who is a risk analyst, was nervously laughing in the corner. We felt like we had won the lottery – neither of us have multiples in the family!’

Lina had no idea she was carrying three babies until her six week scan - and admitted she and Fabio felt like they'd won the lottery. Pictured with one of her newborns which was born at 32 weeks

One of the triplets in hospital after being born at 32 weeks

Lina had no idea she was carrying three babies until her six week scan – and admitted she and Fabio felt like they’d won the lottery. Pictured with one of the triplets, born at 32 weeks, in hospital

Medics prepared the couple for the worst as triplet pregnancies have a high risk of miscarriage.

Thankfully there weren’t any complications and Lina gave birth at 32 weeks to Luis who weighed 2lb 8oz, Piero (3lb 6oz) and Remi (3lb 12oz).

The couple admit they still get confused about who is who at times, and the 13-week-old triplets still wear velcro wrist bands with their initials on to ensure they are not mixed up.

Lina added: ‘I felt anxious throughout the pregnancy as I feared something bad may happen and I couldn’t deal with another miscarriage.

Thankfully there weren't any complications during the birth at 32 weeks, and Lina welcomed Luis, who weighed 2lb 8oz, Piero (3lb 6oz) and Remi (3lb 12oz)

Thankfully there weren’t any complications during the birth at 32 weeks, and Lina welcomed Luis, who weighed 2lb 8oz, Piero (3lb 6oz) and Remi (3lb 12oz)

The couple said the current lockdown has helped them form a bond and get into a routine with their new arrivals

The couple said the current lockdown has helped them form a bond and get into a routine with their new arrivals

The couple admit they still get confused about who is who at times, and the 13-week-old triplets still wear velcro wrist bands with their initials on to ensure they are not mixed up

The couple admit they still get confused about who is who at times, and the 13-week-old triplets still wear velcro wrist bands with their initials on to ensure they are not mixed up

‘But we had scans every two weeks to ensure everything was fine – it was incredible watching them grow.

‘My bump became heavy and uncomfortable towards the end but I persevered as I still needed to be a mum to Alba and keep her entertained.

‘They were born March 12 – and thankfully our parents were able to meet them before the UK went into lockdown.

‘The triplets were like superstars at St. Peters in Chertsey (Surrey) as many of the staff hadn’t seen identical triplets before.

Lina said the NHS was 'absolutely incredible' for not only getting them through the pregnancy but also providing 24-hour care when they were born

Lina said the NHS was ‘absolutely incredible’ for not only getting them through the pregnancy but also providing 24-hour care when they were born

Fabio wasn't allowed to see the babies for three weeks while they were in hospital due to the restrictions - only via FaceTime, which Lina said was difficult. Pictured at home now

Fabio wasn’t allowed to see the babies for three weeks while they were in hospital due to the restrictions – only via FaceTime, which Lina said was difficult. Pictured at home now

Lina said: 'The triplets were like superstars at St. Peters in Chertsey (Surrey) as many of the staff hadn't seen identical triplets before'

Lina said: ‘The triplets were like superstars at St. Peters in Chertsey (Surrey) as many of the staff hadn’t seen identical triplets before’

‘Fabio wasn’t allowed to see them for three weeks whilst they were in hospital due to the restrictions – only via FaceTime, which was difficult.

‘The NHS was absolutely incredible for not only getting us through the pregnancy but also providing 24 hour care when they were born.

‘The lockdown has helped us form a bond and get into a routine with them. Alba absolutely adores them – she gives them a kiss every morning and night before bed.

‘The wristbands are mainly for night feeds as there has been an occasion when one baby nearly got fed twice as it is hard to tell them apart!’

Alba absolutely adores her new siblings (pictured together) and gives them a kiss every morning and night before bed

Alba absolutely adores her new siblings (pictured together) and gives them a kiss every morning and night before bed

How rare are identical triplets?

Usually with triplets, two eggs are fertilised and one then splits into two, making twins. 

The triplet rate in the UK used to be about 1 in 10,000 maternities but more than quadrupled between 1970 and 1998 following the introduction of ovulation induction and multiple embryo transfer in fertility treatment.

The odds of conceiving identical triplets naturally are considered to be 2-million-to-one.

Ruwan Wimalasundera, a consultant at University College London Hospital, said: ‘The actual figure depends on what you take as the background chance of a twin pregnancy.

‘Statically it is now 1:50 in the UK but this figure includes the large amount of twins from IVF.

‘Naturally the chance of naturally conceived twins is lower and probably about 1:80. So if you take the 1:50 the chance for triplets is 1:2 million.

‘If you take 1:80 then the chance is 1:3.2 million.’

One hundred and thirty two sets of triplets were born in England and Wales in 2018, although most were non-identical. 

Rosie Phelps-Goggin, 40, and husband Brad, 45, of Pylle, Somerset, had identical triplets – Genevieve, Constance and Avangeline – last year.

In April Becky Sefton, 29, and partner Adam Balduckie, 33, had three 3lb girls conceived naturally, although they were not identical.