Kalie and Joshua Kuhl gave birth to identical triplets Tuesday in Rockford, Ill., but the boys’ survival was complicated by an unusual womb disorder, reports the Rockford Register Star.
The births’ complication was twin-to-twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, which happens when the babies share the same placenta and some of the same blood vessels, according to the newspaper.
It is a dangerous condition because one fetus can be overloaded with blood and amniotic fluid and cause heart failure, while the other fetuses are deprived, according to the Star.
The Kuhls, who live in Machesney Park, Ill., have named the babies Brodin, Gavin, and Trevin, according to WREX-13.
“Although two of the triplets are most affected, the third is affected to a smaller degree,” Mike Wiltse, hospital marketing and public relations specialist, said Thursday.
Dr. Manny Alvarez, managing health editor of FOXNews.com, said twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome is one of the potential complications of identical multiple births.
"It can be fatal, because basically two babies begin to share their own circulation," he said. "One baby becomes the donor and the other becomes the recipient. The donor begins to lose weight and begins to have growth retardation. The recipient baby becomes plethoric and tends to have a significant increase in amniotic fluid in his sac, which puts the pregnancy at risk for premature delivery as well fetal death."
Alvarez said the following can be used as treatment options: intrauterine laser treatment, amniocentesis and ligation of the umbilical cord.
"In mild cases, conservative treatment can achieve viable outcomes," Alvarez said.
According to the Star, Kalie Kuhl can go home Friday, but the babies will remain in the hospital for about six weeks. Doctors said they are doing well.
Click here to read the full story from the Rockford Register Star.
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