A first-time mum who beat 1 in 200 million odds of naturally conceiving identical triplets has shared what it was like having her miracle babies.
Scottish-born Allana Allard was over the moon when she and her Aussie husband Tim, 31, discovered they were going to become first-time parents back in October, 2019.
The 29-year-old from Davistown, New South Wales, Australia, said she and Tim had been trying to have a baby for just two weeks before discovering a positive result on a home pregnancy test.
Thrilled with the news, the couple were excited to go to their very first ultrasound together when Allana was six weeks along – but were left speechless after being told there were three little heartbeats coming through.
And after welcoming their identical triplet boys Jaxon, Zac and Zavier in May 2020 .
Allana, who was born in Falkirk, Scotland but moved to Australia aged 13, said: “We decided to start trying for a baby in October last year, and within just two weeks we were pregnant.
“We were over the moon. We went together to our very first scan, and were not really expecting much as it was so early.
“We heard two heartbeats at first, and we were told it was twins. But after doing an internal ultrasound we got the news it was triplets.
“There is absolutely no history of multiple births on either side of our families, so it was just totally random.
“After the initial shock wore off, we were just so excited. Of course we were a bit scared as all new parents are, but we were so happy.”
While the exact figure is unknown, some studies have reported that the chance of a woman having natural identical triplets could be as rare as 1 in 200 million.
At first the couple assumed that just two of their boys were identical, while the other was fraternal, as Jaxon and Zac were growing in one sac while Zavier was in another.
But six weeks after they were born, the parents were shocked after DNA testing revealed their trio were actually genetically identical.
Mine worker Tim said: “We never thought they would be identical, as two shared a sac and placenta, while the other had his own.
“But after they were born, it was obvious they looked exactly the same. People said we should get a DNA test, just to see.
“We did a simple cheek swab test, and then the results confirmed they were in fact identical triplets.