Saskatoon couple welcomes identical triplets to family

Every child's birth is special for parents. But one Saskatoon couple experienced something quite extraordinary and now has three identical reasons to celebrate.

On Monday, Teri-Lynn Pocha gave birth to identical triplet girls at Saskatoon's Royal University Hospital at 1:20 p.m., 1:21 p.m. and 1:22 p.m. CST.

The odds of a natural triplet birth are extremely rare. Regardless of the odds, Andrew Pocha said he couldn't be happier to have three new baby girls.

"It was pretty amazing," Pocha said. "I was behind the screen in the operating room when you could hear that first cry come out, and then the second cry, and then the third. It was an unreal feeling."

While Pocha is very happy, he said there were some concerns about their health when they found out Teri-Lynn was having triplets.

"We knew with triplets that they usually come within 32 and 33 weeks," Pocha said. "The concern was always there that she would go into labour earlier and then there would be long-term complications. But she carried them to 35 weeks, which was pretty amazing."

Pocha said his triplets Aubrey, Sophie, and Madeline Pocha are all healthy.

"They're doing better than anyone had expected," he said. "They were all eating from bottles as of (Monday). Shortly after they were born, they were chewing on soothers and eating from bottles. Everything is healthy with them so we're just waiting for them to gain some weight so they can get out."

Andrew and Teri-Lynn already have an eight-year-old son and a six-year-old daughter.

"It just seems normal to me right now," Pocha said. "But I'm sure once they get a little older and crawling around and they're all going to look alike, then it might sink in just how rare this is."

When asked how he'll explain this story to his triplets when they're older, Pocha said, "I think they'll be able to watch it for themselves."

Dean Rowan, a relative of the couple. is collecting donations to help the new parents out with their new babies.

Anyone who is interested in donating baby supplies to the Pochas is asked to call Rowanat home at 306-933-0218 or callhis cell, at306-371-3996.