A Triple Surprise: Family Grows by Three at Willow Creek Women’s Hospital

9/18/2017

It was a happy surprise the day Cassie and Thomas Parker found out they would be having another child, a surprise that soon doubled and then tripled in size.

Cassie went to a doctor appointment to discuss changing her birth control medication, only to find out that she was already pregnant, says Thomas, her husband.

The Parkers soon found out at an ultrasound appointment that they would have twins. As if two surprises weren’t enough, they received a third surprise at their next ultrasound appointment: their family was going to grow by three.

“To have triplets was definitely a shocker,” Thomas says.

The Parkers have three children who were born prior to the triplets; Odell, 9; Wyatt, 6; and Augustus, 4.

Reflecting back on the reactions to her pregnancy, Cassie tells of her four-year-old crying. She explains that he wanted two babies but not the third one. Fast forward a few months, and Augustus loves his little brothers and likes to give them their pacifiers when they are fussy.

The Parkers see Chad Hill, M.D., who is an obstetrician and gynecologist at the Siloam Springs Women’s Center. Dr. Hill knew that it was likely they would need the support of a local neonatal intensive care unit so he recommended the couple deliver their triplets at Willow Creek Women’s Hospital in Johnson.

“The Willow Creek Neonatal Intensive Care Unit has been our practice's "go-to" NICU since they first opened, due to the fact that they offer the highest level of acuity in our region and also always treat both our patients and providers with a great deal of compassion and courtesy,” Dr. Hill says.

Many triplet deliveries are performed early either by being induced or via caesarian section, as in this particular case, because it would be riskier to take the birth to term than to deliver early, explains Jessica Janes, RN, supervisor of the hospital’s NICU.

Natalie Eiland, D.O., obstetrician and gynecologist at the Siloam Springs Women’s Center, performed a caesarian section, delivering the triplets on May 19, almost two months prior to Cassie’s due date.

The triplets, born premature, stayed in Willow Creek’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for about three weeks. Instead of going home themselves, the Parkers decided to stay in Willow Creek’s courtesy room while the triplets were in the NICU, Cassie says.

It was the first time they had used a NICU, Thomas says. “We were in and out on the other three.”

Hospital staff encourages parents to stay in the hospital while their babies are in the NICU, says Tina Babb, MSN, RN, NICU director at Willow Creek and Northwest Medical Center – Bentonville. This in turn encourages the parents to participate in the care of their children while also helping the newborns to bond with their parents.

The staff was nice, helpful and there for any questions the couple had, Cassie says.

“I liked Willow Creek,” she says. “They were awesome.”

Willow Creek’s lactation consultant helped Cassie with any breastfeeding questions or difficulties. The consultant showed her how to feed two of the infants at one time and then rotate them, Thomas says. The staff was also very informative and kept them up to date about the triplets’ care.

“They took great care of the babies,” he says. “We didn’t have to worry.”

Hospital staff also encouraged kangaroo care, Babb says. This involves placing the infant directly on the mother’s bare chest. In Cassie’s situation, she held all three boys at the same time.

These education practices helped Willow Creek become the first in the state to earn the designation of a Baby-Friendly hospital. Baby-Friendly is an international designation from the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund. The initiative encourages and recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that offer a high level of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies.

Deliveries of triplets are rare at Willow Creek, Janes says. About two sets of triplets are born at the hospital each year. It is especially rare that the Parkers’ triplets were natural, since many triplets are the result of fertility treatments.

Cassie, Thomas and their six children are now healthy and happy at home. The Parkers named the triplets Ty Warren, Connor James and Duke Allen.

The three older boys help with their baby brothers by holding them, feeding them and giving them their pacifiers, Cassie says. The oldest child, Odell, told her he is “so glad the babies are home.” He helped a bit when Augustus was born, but he is helping even more now. He can even tell the triplets apart from the backs of their heads.

“He’s like a mini adult,” she says.

Odell thinks the triplets are cool. Though, he says it’s not very different from when his other brothers came home after being born.

“There’s a lot more crying,” he says.

Overall though, Cassie says the experience has been pretty cool.

“They’re pretty good babies,” she says. “They’re content.”

For more information about obstetrics and maternity care at Willow Creek Women’s Hospital, call 479-684-3000 or visit northwesthealth.com. Expectant mothers may schedule a tour by calling 479-684-3054.

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