Triplets Justen, Jean and Jayden with RNs Lorna LePoldevin, left, and Tara Moreau.

Rare triplet delivery highlights expertise

The Maternal Newborn Department had an unexpected treat on Halloween when it was asked by doctors at Mt. Sinai to accept a patient in labour with premature triplets.

Dr. Joseph Cramer was the obstetrician on call that day and after discussing the request with paediatrician Dr. Beth Gamulka and nursing staff, the team was confident they could handle the delivery.

“This is a huge compliment for us,” says Dr. Cramer, who delivered the last set of triplets at the General campus in 1982.

Mt. Sinai obstetrician Dr. Greg Ryan “felt comfortable transferring here. He did not feel the care would be compromised,” says Dr. Cramer, who delivers about 400 babies each year. “It is extremely rare for us to get asked to take overflow from Mt. Sinai.”

“Everyone swung into action and preparations were made in the NICU resuscitation room for all three infants,” says Dr. Azzopardi. Sick Kids Hospital spared two highly skilled nurses to assist.

When soon-to-be mom Anita Shlymon arrived by ambulance, she was anxious, nervous and a bit worried about delivering in an unfamiliar hospital with a doctor who had not cared for her throughout her high-risk pregnancy.

“I was praying, my husband was praying. We asked our family and our pastors to pray for us,” says Anita, adding she had a difficult pregnancy and had many worries related to carrying three babies.

“I begged my doctor at Mt. Sinai to come with me. I didn’t want someone else delivering my babies. He knew my history. But he told me I didn’t have to worry, that Dr. Cramer was a good a doctor,” says Anita. “I was worried but Dr. Cramer made me feel like everything would be okay. He was joking and that made me feel better.”

The three baby boys were delivered within minutes of each other and are all doing well. One was transferred to Sick Kid’s Hospital for specialized care. He returned to TSH a week later to be with his brothers; all three are healthy.

The babies will remain in hospital for a few weeks. Anita says it is hard to leave her newborns each day, but she is confident they are in good hands with nurses in the NICU.

“No we don’t do this very often. But obstetrically you can’t compare what we do here to any other hospital in the city,” says Dr. Cramer. “We have high volumes. We have a very different and difficult obstetric population.  Many have had little or no prenatal care. There are nutritional issues. We do an excellent job with very trying circumstances.”

Dr. Azzopardi says the experience was “true teamwork.”

“No panic, no chaos. Each group helping the other as needed,” he says. “As I stepped back at one point to look around the room, I thought that this mom and her infants were receiving as good or better care than they would have had at any Level 3 unit.”