Rachel Talbot and David Stephenson were stunned to discover they were expecting triplets - Archie, Ruby, and Oscar - after Rachel's six-week scan. The triplets were conceived naturally and are extremely rare, occurring only once in every 1,800 pregnancies. They were born at Ipswich Hospital last month and have brought much joy to their parents and Rachel's daughter Ella, despite the initial shock and significant financial costs of caring for three newborns. The consultant at Ipswich Hospital doubts he will ever encounter another case of natural triplets.

1. TRIPLETS JOY
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 Price 47pNo.37,823 BRITAIN’S DAILY NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR 2007 & 2008
BORN IN IPSWICH, PRIDE OF SUFFOLK
MEET Archie, Ruby and
Oscar – adorable triplets
who have defied the odds and
provided their proud par-
ents with three unexpected
additions to the family.
The cute trio of tots are not only spe-
By SIMON TOMLINSON
simon.tomlinson@eveningstar.co.uk
EXCLUSIVE Stunned couple welcome special trio...
they weren’t even trying for one baby!
cial in the eyes of mum and dad Rachel
Talbot and David Stephenson, but have
also surprised the medical profession.
Born at Ipswich Hospital last month,
their case is particularly rare because
they were conceived naturally and not as
a result of fertility treatment.
They occur only once in every 1,800
pregnancies and the hospital’s gynaecol-
ogy consultant doubts he will ever be
involved in another case like it.
The pregnancy also came as a surprise
to their parents who hadn’t even been
trying to have children – let alone three.
Miss Talbot, 33, of Levington Lane,
Bucklesham, said: “It has been hectic but
I love it.”
■■ Full story – pages 2-3
BABY BOON: The
Talbot triplets,
from left, Archie,
Ruby and Oscar.
Picture: ANDY ABBOTT
MyPhotos24 ref - aa 09
talbot triplets 14
YOUR
NEWS
EXTRA8-page Star Weekly
INSIDE

2. NEWSPage 2 Evening Star, Tuesday, April 21, 2009 www.eveningstar.co.uk
By SIMON TOMLINSON
simon.tomlinson@eveningstar.co.uk
IT was once, twice, three times a baby
for one shell-shocked but ecstatic cou-
ple from Suffolk.
Rachel Talbot and David
Stephenson are today rejoicing the
birth of triplets – Oscar, Ruby and
Archie.
When they entered the world last
month, they were the first trio to be
born at Ipswich Hospital since March
2005.
Their arrival is even more unusual
because it was completely natural
and not the result of fertility treat-
ment.
Their parents, of Levington Lane,
Bucklesham, had not been trying for
children so news of the pregnancy
came as a bolt from the blue.
But another bombshell was
dropped at Miss Talbot’s six-week
scan when she was told she was
expecting three babies.
Miss Talbot, 33, said: “I think I
swore. It was a real shock. It didn’t
It’s one, two, glee for
EXCLUSIVE
sink in for weeks until they started
growing and I could see them mov-
ing.”
Mr Stephenson added: “I nearly fell
over. I was quite ill for a long time
afterwards.”
The conception occurred after Miss
Talbot removed a contraceptive
implant because she was having com-
plications.
They believe Mr Stephenson’s deci-
sion to quit smoking and start drink-
ing lots of Guinness may have aided
the process.
The foetuses are non-identical and
each had their own amniotic sac and
placenta.
A fourth egg, which was believed to
be an identical twin to one of the
boys, did not develop.
The two boys weighed 3lb 9oz while
Ruby was a pound heavier when they
were born by caesarean section on
March 16.
Miss Talbot lost a lot of blood dur-
ing the operation and required a
transfusion which left her quite ill for
some time.
News of triplets
was a real bolt
from the blue for
Rachel and David
■ The odds of giving birth to triplets
are 5,000-1 – the same as being struck
by lightning or getting a hole in one in
golf.
■ There were 22 doctors and nurses
on hand at the birth of the Ipswich
triplets.
■ Archie, Oscar and Ruby were born
six weeks early, which is quite normal
for multiple births.
■ The most sets of triplets reportedly
born is 15 – to Maddalena Granata,
who lived in Italy in the 19th Century.
Triplets
Fastfacts
CONSULTANT Ayman
Ewies today said Miss
Talbot’s case was so rare
he doubts he will be
involved in another like it.
Mr Ewies, a gynaecolo-
gist, has been working in
obstetrics and gynaecolo-
gy since 1988 and this is
the first case of triplets
conceived spontaneously
he has worked with – only
ever before seeing triplets
in IVF treatment mothers.
He said: “Nationally,
one in 90 pregnancies is a
spontaneous twin preg-
nancy and spontaneous
triplets come only once in
every 1,800 pregnancies.
“I doubt I’ll come
across this again in the
future.”
Complications with
growth can be common in
multiple births, so moth-
ers and babies are closely
monitored at Ipswich
Hospital to check the pla-
centa is efficiently feed-
ing all the babies. Miss
Talbot underwent four
scans between eight and
24 weeks of pregnancy,
and then a further six
growth scans after 24
weeks.
Mr Ewies said multiple
births are more likely if
there is a family history,
particularly on the mater-
nal side. They are also
more common in older
women and in certain
races, such as west
African women. IVF is
the most common cause
for multiple births.
Inprofile What the doctor says
CONSULTANT: Ayman Ewies Archie Ruby
Oscar
PRECIOUS: The triplets in incubators at the Special Care Baby Unit at
Ipswich Hospital
HAPPY FAMILY: The triplets with mum and dad Rachel and David, sister Ella, 6, grandmother
Kay Eden and great-grandmother Doreen Mcllwain. Below, the triplets get a kiss from dad.
Right, the trio enjoy a cuddle with proud sister Ella and, below right, from mum.
Pictures: ANDY ABBOTT MyPhotos24 ref - aa 09 talbot triplets 1, 20, 17, 5

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CODE OF CONDUCT
INSIDE TONIGHT
Weather 6
Your Letters 8
Memory Frame 14
Birthdays 15
Television 19, 20 & 21
Classifieds 25-29
SPORT
Grass Roots 30-33
Racing 34
Golf 35-37
Karen Pickering 38
Take a waltz down memory lane with
DAVE KINDRED in tonight’s Kindred
Spirits – centre pages
stunned couple!
After a few weeks in incubation
and being monitored at the hospital,
the babies came home on April 5 – the
day before Mr Stephenson’s 34th
birthday, which gave him the “best
present ever”.
They have also gone down a storm
with Miss Talbot’s six-year-old
daughter Ella who is helping to
change their nappies and feed them.
The babies are already developing
their own personalities and have
been given nicknames by the
family.
Oscar is called Sleeping Beauty
because he is always napping, Archie
has been tagged Grumpy and Ruby
was named Princess Pie because,
according to Miss Talbot, “she is
beautiful.”
The family have had to move to a
bigger house and buy a people carri-
er car to accommodate the new
arrivals.
The couple, who are currently out
of work, have also decided to call off
their wedding plans to focus the
finances on the children.
Miss Talbot said: “They have cost
us a small fortune. We have had to
put a lot of money away. It has been
hectic but I love it.”
A spokeswoman for Ipswich
Hospital said:
“We are very
pleased for the family.”
■ Do you have any words of advice
for the family? Are you expecting a
multiple birth? Write to Your Letters,
The Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook
Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or
alternatively you can send an
e-mail to eveningstarletters@evening
star.co.uk
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WATCH THE
VIDEO
www.eveningstar.
co.uk
PROUD MUM: Rachel
Talbot with, from left,
Archie, Oscar and Ruby.
Picture: ANDY ABBOTT
MyPhotos24 ref - aa 09 talbot
triplets 1