Becoming a Dad to Three Tiny Miracles

My name is Ollie, and I’m the proud father of fraternal triplet boys.

Our wild journey started in early 2023 when my partner Maria and I went for our 12-week scan and found out we were having triplets. I was absolutely over the moon. I’d always wanted to be a father, and it felt like we’d hit the jackpot.

The pregnancy was unlike anything we could have imagined. Carrying triplets is no small feat, but everything changed at 26 weeks. During a routine appointment, just one day before our planned baby shower, the doctors checked Maria’s blood pressure and realised something wasn’t right. She was diagnosed with severe pre-eclampsia, putting both her health and the boys at risk the longer the pregnancy continued.

To be honest, I was terrified. Neither of us really understood what this meant, and we had no idea just how incredible the NICU team and support services would be.

I did my best to stay calm and be strong for Maria, but inside I was scared. As a first-time dad and a partner watching the people I loved most at risk, it felt completely out of my control.

The support, reassurance and guidance we received from the doctors and nurses helped ease our fears, and before long we had a plan.

The reality was that we weren’t going home. We would stay in hospital until the boys were ready to make their entrance. Days felt like weeks. Then one day, after one of Maria’s routine checks, the doctors came into the room and said the words.

“The boys are coming now.”

Maria was just over 27 weeks pregnant.

The delivery room was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. There was a dedicated team of doctors and specialists for each of our boys. It was intense, emotional and overwhelming all at once.

Soon after, we met our three incredible sons: Eli, Casey and Ari.

Eli and Casey each weighed just 910 grams, while Ari (aka tiny) weighed only 750 grams. They were so unbelievably small. I’d never seen anything like it.

Our journey was only just beginning.

The boys spent nearly four months in NICU, and Maria and I were there every single day.

Those four months were incredibly challenging but also incredibly inspiring. We watched our boys grow from tiny babies in incubators, being fed bottle cap sized amounts of milk through feeding tubes, wearing nappies so small they looked like they belonged on a kitten.

Throughout it all, we were surrounded by the most amazing doctors, nurses and support staff. I know this was their job, but it never felt like “just a job.” They genuinely cared about us and walked beside us through every high and low. No question was ever too silly, no concern too small, and they always made us feel supported.

Coming home was the beginning of a whole new adventure.

Life with triplets certainly has its challenges, but it has also been everything we dreamed of. Watching our boys grow has been the greatest privilege of our lives.

In just a week’s time they’ll be turning three years old, and they’ve grown into the coolest little dudes each with their own unique personality, sense of humour and attitude. They make us laugh every single day, and we’re so incredibly proud of them.

To everyone at NICU and Little Miracles Trust, thank you.

Thank you for the care, the encouragement and the hope you gave us during the hardest time of our lives. We truly can never thank you enough. Without you, our boys may not be here today.

And finally, Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there.