Today's Edition
BRATISLAVA (dpa)
Identical triplets have been born in Slovakia, according to the Children's University Hospital in Kosice, which explained that this occurs extremely rarely, approximately once in every 100 million births.
Such a birth is always associated with significant risks, the hospital said on Tuesday. However, all three babies born at the hospital in the eastern city are doing well, it said. There is hope that they can be discharged home soon.
According to the hospital, identical, or monozygotic, triplets occur when a fertilised egg splits in the early stages of pregnancy, and one of the two resulting eggs splits again. The result is three genetically identical embryos of the same gender.
The girls, named Sara, Ester and Livia, were reportedly delivered by Caesarean section in the second half of June in the 33rd week of pregnancy.
They have grown well since then, with each of the three babies having gained nearly 400 grams in weight over the past four weeks, and all three showing daily progress.
The mother, whose first name Petronela was the only detail released, is being cared for at the hospital along with them. She already has a 5-year-old daughter.
