First set of triplets delivered at Desert Regional in six years
Gavin Nguyen
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A healthy group of triplets have been delivered at Desert Regional Medical Center!
A Yucca Valley woman and her husband welcomed two baby boys and a baby girl on July 12th. The mom, Desiree Barrett-Wilson, says she’s excited to expand her family.
She and her husband, Waylon, named the three Harrison, Hudson, and Addison, who were born in that order.
It’s the first time it’s happened at the hospital in six years, and the hospital said triplet births occur in just one in every 10,000 pregnancies.
Maggie Stutz, the Director of Women, Infants, and Children at the hospital, said despite the rarity of delivering triplets, the hospital sees it as an exciting time.
“To us, our team sees it as a wonderful celebration. In reality, it’s just one extra baby … we’re delivering twins monthly here. So to have triplets is just remarkable,” Stutz explained.
Stutz highlighted the medical center’s Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) program, which handles high-risk pregnancies, as well as the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurses and the Labor & Delivery team.
Lori Umanzio, a neonatal nurse practitioner, described the excitement within the NICU: “I think ‘cause it’s multiples, you’re all excited to see what they look like, whether it’s boys or girls. And you’re excited for the parents because it’s not the norm.”
Four days after the triplets’ birth, mom, dad, and older brother Grayson were ready to go home, while the three new bundles of joy continued to grow in the NICU. They were born a few weeks premature, but the parents said they know the newest additions to their family were being cared for.
“We know our family is being taken care of, like, I know my babies are going to be good when we can’t be here 24 hours,” said Desiree.
Nurses said they expect the babies will stay in the unit until their initial due date draws closer. Until then, the nurses will watch over them and keep them connected to nutrition, oxygen, and more.
Desert Regional Medical Center said its Maternal Fetal Medicine program and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the valley allow them “to bring even the tiniest humans into the world and deliver multiples.”
As for the Wilsons, their new triplets don’t mark the finish line for growing their family. They plan for more in the future.
“We love having kids, and that’s like, we’re not even done. We’re not done having kids. We want more. And our families are like, ‘You’re crazy. You’re going to have your hands full.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, but it’s okay.’ So yeah, we’re we’re very, very happy, very excited to have all these, these little babies.”
They said they also hope their story can help inspire others looking to grow their families.
“We struggled with infertility, so having these babies was just…,” Desiree said, running her fingers through Grayson’s hair. “It’s just a blessing.”
“With one in ten thousand pregnancies resulting in triplets… does it feel like you won the lottery?” we asked.
“Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. The baby lottery,” the Wilsons beamed.