Triple Trouble
A friend and colleague of mine flew into Seattle to collaborate with me on some project work today. The interesting surprise about her visit was that she was wearing a brand new maternity top. In her mid-30s, with a toddler in the house, she is pregnant with triplets.
Oh! My! I am happy and scared and anxious for her all at the same time.
She is terrified. How can you prepare for that kind of life change? She’s probably not planning to continue to work, how could she? How in the world do you physically handle the challenges of juggling three? Diapering, dressing, bathing, nursing, going for a walk with three? How do you cope when they start to become mobile, pull up, walk, all in different directions toward different forbidden items?
She’s a brilliant woman with a great sense of humor, plenty of energy and a lot of resiliency. I’m sure she’ll figure out a way to cope – and she just may patent a few new baby gadgets along the way.
She shared with me all sorts of scary-but-interesting statistics. For instance, a woman carrying triplets is as big at 20 weeks as a woman carrying a single baby is at full term. My research showed that doctors start recommending reduced activity at 20-24 weeks, and the average triplet pregnancy ends in pre-term delivery at 33 weeks. And, scarier still, a woman carrying triplets has a 13% higher chance of dying in childbirth. In America, in the 21st century!
I congratulate her, wish her the best, and am keeping her and her babies’ health and safety in my thoughts. And, well, I’m glad it’s her and not me. Sorry. 
September 16th, 2008
Yeah, but the risk of dying in childbirth in the US is much less than a tenth of a percent – only 0.013% as of 2007. 1.13 times that is ~0.0147%. In absolute terms the increased risk from triplets is still tiny (0.0017%) – and roughly the same as that of any other Caesarian. But 13% sounds better to the busybodies in Government who require doctors to have patients sign waivers.
I really hate the scare-mongers in our society. (NOW do you see why I want Statistics required in High School?:p)
September 16th, 2008
Yes, a 13% increase sounds scary until you know what the underlying figure is.
And all the best to your friend, Jeri.
September 16th, 2008
Thanks, that does help. That basis number is always pretty critical to understanding percentages.
(And my friend is a MBA and fellow PM so she has some pretty substantial statistical grounding herself…)
September 16th, 2008
You both are Prime Ministers? Wow!
September 17th, 2008
My SIL had twins and that’s been plenty of stress. I really can’t imagine having even twins. Even one infant is a shocking amt of work and stress. I feel both admiration and something bordering on mild horror whenever I see moms with triplets/quadruplets b/c I think if it were me, I’d lose my mind completely. I am not horrified by the babies or the mothers or anything, just the horrific amts of work and stress that I imagine. Not only would you probably have to stop working outside the home, you might even have to HIRE some help temporarily if you have the funds to do it.
But, eh. There is so much we don’t control when it comes to pregnancy, babies, birthing, and lifestyle changes due to parenting. When it comes to you in whatever ways it does, you have to go with it…
-bm
September 17th, 2008
I went to elementary school with triples. Their mother went to the hospital expecting to have her third child, and came home with three, four, and five.
That said, they were great kids, and even if their parents were overwhelmed initially (and for awhile after I’d suppose) they turned out great.
I’m guessing having triplets is one of those things you can’t think about, but you just have to do.