By Toni Garrard Clay
Anna Martinez-Espinoza and her husband, Pablo Espinoza, were surprised when they found out they had twins on the way, although they probably shouldn’t have been. Both have a set of twins in their family a generation back. Then about two months before delivery came the news that they were not having twins after all. They were having triplets.
“When they told me, I said, ‘Get my husband,’” said Martinez-Espinoza. “I was happy when I found out and surprised. I never imagined I was going to have twins … or triplets.” Martinez-Espinoza did not use any type of fertility drug, which increases the chances of multiple births.
A C-section was scheduled for Martinez-Espinoza this past Monday morning. ETMC Athens and a team of doctors and nurses prepared to the last detail for the procedure — including having a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) team on hand from Methodist Hospital of Dallas should critical care be needed.
“We wanted to make sure every eventuality was covered,” said Kim Hardy, RN, a charge nurse in the hospital’s obstetrics unit, who was on hand for the delivery.
Dr. Lynne Baumgartner, the mother’s physician, performed the C-section with the assistance of Dr. Greg Mondini. Drs. Doug Curran, Michael Swartwood and Bruce Woodall were each stationed at a warmer in the operating room and handed the infants as they were delivered. There were also seven nurses in addition to other medical personnel in the room.
“It went smooth as silk,” said Hardy. “Dad was there as well. Once we got them all back to the OB recovery room, Mom didn’t put them down all day.”
The infants, in order of appearance, are baby girl Sol (4 pounds, 3 1/2 ounces, 17 inches), baby boy Pablo (4 pounds, 12 1/2 ounces ,18 inches), and baby girl Astrella (4 pounds, 13 1/2 ounces, 18 inches). Mother and babies are all doing well. The triplets are also welcomed by their six-year-old sister, Lesley.
The Espinozas live in Wills Point and expect to have plenty of help from family as they adjust to life with triplets.