Nelson鈥檚 new identical triplets are healthy, happy and home at last.

Katherine van der Veen gave birth to Ainsley, Olivia and Abigail on May 8. The girls became mathematical marvels the moment they were born 鈥� a study by researchers at Cambridge University in England found the odds of having identical triplets are 10 in one million.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just a random fluke of the universe or nature or god depending on how you look at it,鈥� said Van der Veen. 鈥淲e think it鈥檚 a miracle and just [the universe saying] 鈥榟ere you go, have fun!鈥欌��

The family is the first to have identical triplets in Canada since 2016 when a Kelowna mother gave birth to a trio of girls. Interior B.C. has a recent history of identical triplets: a family in Salmon Arm also had the unlikely birth in 2015.

Van der Veen and her husband Ain Baird previously endured both a miscarriage and a preterm birth, so she was relieved the triplets were healthy after being born via caesarean section.

The family spent two weeks at the in Vancouver after the babies were born over a month ahead of the original June 14 due date.

Their birth weights ranged from just 4.4 to 5.4 pounds. Of course, that was still nearly 15 pounds of babies Van der Veen was carrying around.

鈥淚 walk around [now and] I鈥檓 like, 鈥榟ow did I do that?鈥欌��

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Van der Veen praised the hospital鈥檚 medical staff 鈥� the family had two nurses assigned to them 鈥� but said the new parents are relieved to be back in their home.

Of course, now the real work begins. Breast feeding triplets, for example, is a process.

鈥淪ometimes you have to put down the first one, half feed the second one then put that one down and half feed the third one,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o it鈥檚 a juggle, but for the most part they鈥檙e awesome. They really zen right now, but that will change soon enough I鈥檓 sure.鈥�

The new parents are also looking ahead to life with their unique brood. Baird, who owns a construction company, has already made business cards that include a picture of his new daughters.

Van der Veen said she hopes, in time, her daughters become known for more than just their unique birth.

鈥淸I want to] be present for them and encourage them to be individuals because they are identical so they are going to be lumped together, but also recognizing they鈥檙e each little people and will be grown up people.鈥�

Donations can be made online at .

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story stated the last set of identical triplets were born in 2015. In fact it was to a Kelowna family in 2016.

tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com
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