Karen and Ian Gilbert were still newlyweds when they found out Karen was pregnant. Karen initially thought she was expecting one baby, but when she started to experience severe pain in her abdomen, she feared a miscarriage. As it turned out, Karen was wrong on both counts. She was actually pregnant with triplets, and the babies were fighting for space inside her belly! Incredibly, the Gilbert triplets were conceived naturally from one egg, which is extremely rare.
The doctors then delivered a shocking blow. They suggested that Karen and Ian consider terminating the pregnancy due to the high health risks involved. Since the babies shared a placenta, they faced the possibility of twin-to-twin syndrome, where one baby can starve the other two babies of food and fluids. However, the couple ultimately decided that abortion wasn't an option for them.
Born via emergency C-section two months early, Karen and Ian brought home their tiny bundles of joy, Ffion, Maddison and Paige. However, soon the parents were faced with a challenge they didn't see coming. The triplets were so identical that Mom and Dad couldn't tell them apart. In fact, it was such a struggle that they could barely keep track of feedings, baths and changes!
That's when Karen and Ian had to get creative, and their solution ended up going viral…
Karen Gilbert was shocked when an ultrasound revealed she was pregnant with triplets. They were conceived naturally from one egg, beating a 200 million-to-one chance.
Early on, doctors suggested that Karen consider terminating the pregnancy. Since the babies shared a placenta, they faced the possibility of twin-to-twin syndrome, which can be fatal. However, Karen and her husband Ian decided to continue the pregnancy.
In 2013, identical triplets Ffion, Maddison and Paige arrived.
But the parents soon realized how similar their triplets looked to each other, and could barely tell them apart! Ffion, Maddison and Paige were so "scary identical" that it was a struggle to keep track of feedings, baths and diaper changes.
Karen and Ian decided to paint their big toes with a different color of nail polish in order to tell them apart, each color matching the first letter of the baby's name. Fuschia for Ffion, mint green for Maddison and purple for Paige.
Karen said the color-coded toe nails greatly improved the family's daily routine. Their older daughter, Faye, loved to help paint her baby sisters' toes.
Karen said she came up with the nail polish idea after reading a horror story online; another mother of identical triplets mixed up her babies to the point she had to rename them completely. Karen and Ian wanted to avoid something like this at all costs!
These days, Karen and Ian have an easier time of telling the triplets apart. Now toddlers, Ffion, Maddison and Paige have upgraded to wearing sneakers in their designated colors on days where Mom and Dad have to tell them apart.
Karen says she's got a case of "triple trouble" on her hands, but wouldn't have it any other way.
