A Mom Had Menopause In Her 30s Had Became A Mother Of Identical Triplets
After eight months of inconsistent periods and trying to conceive naturally, Hollie Gambrel, then 32, was told she was premenopausal. Her salesman husband David, 34, from Texas, were determined to become parents – even if it meant using an anonymous egg donor.
Menopause occurs when a woman stops ovulating and her monthly period (menstruation) ceases. Most women reach menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, with the average age being around 51. However, about one per cent of women experience menopause before the age of 40 years.
The couple were delighted when friends and family for came together to help them fund the $30,000 treatment. They used IVF by egg donor. In September 2019, the couple found out the fertilised egg had split into three – the odds of this happening was one in every 200 million.
The stay-at-home mother said: ‘I’m speechless sometimes because I can’t believe I have three babies. I want others to know there is a way – it may not be the way you planned but it will always work out. I was heartbroken about not having my own but happy that my husband was able to have his own biological baby.’ She said: ‘ I felt so grateful picking a donor. It was amazing to know there was someone who would give their eggs so I can try and have my own family. We were able to see the profiles and photos of different women who were approved by the doctor’s office. I chose a woman who looked like me with blonde hair, but she had blue eyes and I have brown. She was a similar height, athletic and a runner – like me.’
There were 29 eggs available but just one embryo was transferred on August 7 2019.
She adds: ‘On August 16, a ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ test revealed I was pregnant. We were ecstatic as we had been waiting for this result for two years. when they said ‘three babies. I was in disbelief and I couldn’t stop laughing. I thought it was a joke. David was speechless.”She gave birth at 33 weeks before having a planned C-sᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ one week later. The babies were taken into NICU but they were thriving.
She said: ‘There’s a lot of running up and down the stairs, bottles, nappies, kisses and cuddles. Rory and Rhett play with each other the most whereas Ryder is focused on playing with a toy alone. We are so thankful for everyone who helped us on this journey. It’s worth it. I am thankful for the donor.”