More than we bargained for
Take five
NOLUTHANDO NDLANGISA and her husband were expecting triplets – but, while giving birth, a fourth baby popped out – and then a fifth one!
When Noluthando fell pregnant, she and her husband Joe were told she was carrying four babies. ‘But by 12 weeks, the scan showed only three of them,’ she recalls.
The couple had been struggling with secondary infertility issues (Noluthando has a child from a former relationship, while Joe has twins from his previous marriage) and Noluthando was taking ovulation-inducing drugs. Multiple births are a common side-effect of them.
Although they were overwhelmed, the couple had no choice but to prepare themselves mentally (and financially) for this new challenge. ‘We bought clothes and baby accessories in threes, from bootees to bottles and strollers. I actually enjoyed shopping for triplets. We also picked three names: Siyanda, Sbahle and Simosihle.’
Noluthando’s obstetrician, Dr Moeng Pitsoe, planned a Caesarean section birth. ‘Once I reached 30 weeks, he assured me I’d passed the critical stage of the pregnancy. By then, I’d already gone on maternity leave, but was battling to walk or even stand, and my legs were hurting
