A couple have welcomed triplets into the world after four heartbreaking miscarriages and £11,300 ($19,890) on IVF.
Leonie Fitzgerald, from Brisbane, became a mother to three ‘perfect’ girls at the age of 44, after giving up hope of having a family when she suffered four miscarriages, caused by low progesterone levels.
But Leonie and her husband Peter, 51, took a leap of faith and tried for a baby one more time with the help of IVF in January 2020.
The couple became proud parents on August 23 as they welcomed identical twins Liliana, who weighed 2lb 6oz, Isabella, 3lb 5oz and their sister Charlotte, 4lb 2oz.
Leonie Fitzgerald, 44, and and her husband Peter, 51, became parents to three ‘perfect’ girls after spending £11,300 on IVF
Leonie said: ‘We spent almost six years trying for a baby and it was devastating to say the least.
‘It took nearly three years for me to fall pregnant naturally at 41, we were elated but our joy soon turned to sorrow when I miscarried at 13 weeks.
‘We decided IVF was our only option and were filled with faith again.
‘You never expect it not to work until it doesn’t. I miscarried three more times, once with IVF and twice naturally.
‘Our dreams of becoming parents were slipping away.’
Leonie, who runs her own business, refused to give up hope of becoming a mother despite being diagnosed with low progesterone which led to four devastating miscarriages
The couple became proud parents on August 23 as they welcomed identical twins Liliana, who weighed 2lb 6oz, Isabella, 3lb 5oz and singleton Charlotte, 4lb 2oz
Leonie spent most of the pregnancy on bed rest due to severe morning sickness before giving birth at 32 weeks and six days
Leonie describes her journey to motherhood as a ‘lonely experience’ because miscarriage is a ‘taboo’ subject.
After the second round of IVF, Leonie quit her highly-stressful job and started her own business in property investment.
Adoption was not an option for the couple because the waiting list is five years and they felt they’d be ‘too old’.
Leonie said that her jaw dropped when the ultrasound revealed three heart beats
Despite spending approximately £55,000 ($96,900) on acupuncturists, herbalists and many more healers and specialists – the couple had no baby joy.
She said: ‘We began to accept being parents weren’t meant to be until I saw a physic who predicted I was going to have twins.
‘It was our third and final round of IVF and it worked!’
Leonie recalls her jaw dropping when the ultrasound revealed three heart beats.
She said: ‘It was definitely third time lucky. I remember we looked at each other and smiled.
‘I spent the following week walking around like a zombie as I was in total shock.
‘But we believe you get what you need, rather than what you want in life.
‘We had to upsize our home from a three bed to five bed. And buy an eight seater car!’
Leonie admits feeling ‘terrified’ in case she lost the babies due to her age.
She spent most of the pregnancy on bed rest due to severe morning sickness before giving birth at 32 weeks and six days.
But the labour did not go as planned as Leonie was put into an induced coma for 16 hours after a seizure and increased heart rate.
But the labour did not go as planned as Leonie was put into an induced coma for 16 hours after a seizure and increased heart rate
The triplets had to spend 34 days in NICU (left and right) before heading home with their besotted parents
The triplets spent 34 days in NICU before heading home with their besotted parents.
Leonie said: ‘I felt pretty disconnected from them as I didn’t get the first cuddle.
‘But we bonded as I sat by their sides whilst they were in NICU.
‘Peter and I haven’t grown up around children so all we knew was from the amazing nurses.
‘It was surreal taking them home – we didn’t know where to start.
‘They were going through ten nappies per day and 24 bottles a day at the very start.
Leonie described her journey to motherhood as a ‘lonely experience’ as miscarriage is a ‘taboo’ subject but the couple eventually got the news they had longed for after six years
The couple decided that the adoption was not an option as the waiting list is five years and they felt they’d be ‘too old’
Despite a hectic household, the couple couldn’t be happier and they have learnt to be super organised and to never waste time
‘Sometimes, we have to have 1000 nappies in the house at a time.
‘We are fortunate enough to have a nanny who comes four days a week – and help from our family and friends.
Despite a hectic household, the couple couldn’t be happier and they have learnt to be super organised and to never waste time.
She said: ‘I wouldn’t change our busy lives for the world.
‘Being an older mum definitely has it’s advantages as we have a more positive approach to life these days and follow our intuition. Wisdom is on our side.’