Three's company: Nain mom delivers 3 girls in St. John's

A young mother from Nain is celebrating the arrivalof not one, not two, but three beautiful baby girls.

18-year-old Renee Semigak gave birth to triplets Emily, Naeme, and Justine earlier this month in St. John's.

She toldLabrador MorningMonday that the lead up to the birth was "surprising" to say the least but that she's thrilled to have three healthy and vibrant girls.

"It was long but when the time started to come it was really exciting," she said. "They came out very healthy."

Two of the girlsare identical, while one is fraternal.

Semigak came to St. John's to give birth to ensurethe babies had a safe and healthy delivery.

As far as anyone can remember, it's the first time a woman from the Labrador community has had triplets.

Semigaksaid she's thankful to have a big support team back home in Nain,including help from community memberswho held a diaper drive for her babies.

She said shehaslots of support from her own mother, her children's father, and her siblings and extended family too.

Grandma overwhelmed and excited

Semigak's mother Emma Kalleo didn'tquite believe the news when her daughter told her she was having triplets.

"Oh my god, it was so overwhelming. Thinking 'geez, my baby girl is having triplets.' It was just shocking," said Kalleo.

It didn't take long to get excited. Sheacknowledgedthat while it's going to be a lot of work it'll be a worthwhile journey.

"The day they were born I just burst out in tears when the father came out and said they were all here and a minute apart," Kalleo said.

"When everything was all said and done and the doctor said that everything was okay and my daughter was going to be ok that's when it really hit me that the girls are here and it's time to spend time with them and get to know them."

Semigaksaid that once the babies are feeding properly, she'll be able to go back home to Nain.