Belize City mother welcomes three bundles of joy

For many women, dealing with one baby is more than enough work, but imagine having to deal with three at the same time. That’s the situation Belize City resident Marie Burke finds herself in tonight after giving birth to two girls and a boy this morning. News Five’s Kendra Griffith reports.

Kendra Griffith, Reporting
This afternoon Marie Burke saw her triplets for the first time. Up until about two months ago, the thirty-nine year old thought she was only having twins.

Marie Burke, Delivered Triplets
“The second ultra-sound, I took it here at Karl Heusner the doctor tell me dah three, cause he tell he turn on the right side, then I know that I wah have three, triplets.”

Kendra Griffith
“What was your reaction?”

Marie Burke
“My reaction was surprise and my husband’s reaction was surprised too.”

“No I nevah prepared for it, the doctor tell me I hit the jackpot, I never expected that, I only mi di expect two, twin.”

Because they were premature, approximately seven months, the three babies are in the special care unit at the K.H.M.H.

Ivan Lopez, Medical Officer, Special Care Baby Unit
“We have to keep them here for a while for observation because at this age their lungs are not fully developed yet so they need at least two more weeks for them to be fully developed and they are prone to infections because of their weak immune system due to the pre-maturity.”

Kendra Griffith
“But the prognosis is good?

Ivan Lopez
“Yeah, at the moment they are doing fine. We go on a day to day evaluation, but at the moment, the babies have a full prognosis, they are feeding fine, they are breathing well. So we are just gonna continue with that plan right now.”

To handle taking care of the trio, Burke says she’ll depend heavily on her husband and her other children.

Marie Burke
“Yes, I have three home; one seventeen and one fifteen, the girl, and the lee gial six.”

“Well I glad fi it, God give me blessing for it. So I wah tek care ah it and mine it and everything.”

Kendra Griffith reporting for News Five.

If you would like to volunteer for babysitting duty or donate items to babies, you can contact Burke at 624-2919.