Parenting multiples – Triple the joy for one family in Luxembourg

Having your first baby is a sacred experience for every parent, something you will remember and recall for a lifetime.  And Vincenzo and Doriana Pitrone certainly have a story to tell. They had three in one go.

The couple has earned a special and unique place as parents to the only set of triplets born in Luxembourg in 2022.

The mixed triplets, when two babies are identical and one is fraternal, were born at CHL Maternité in September of that year. Giuseppe and Bruno are identical twins and their sister Vittoria is fraternal.

The couple, originally from Sicily, but now living in Berchem in the commune of Roeser, were initially astonished to be told that they were expecting twins. However, that was not exactly the end of the news.

The stunned parents-to-be barely had enough time to digest that fact before realising at a follow-up scan the next day that there was another surprise in store.

Doriana recalled that at the appointment it became apparent that there were two babies sharing one sac and triplets were confirmed.

Describing the moment of finding out the incredible news as “shocking” and “full of emotion”, Doriana and Vincenzo said it took a little bit of time to sink in.

“For us it was really unexpected as we had never heard about triplets. What I say is that I needed one day to sleep on it, to understand it and to digest it. But we felt that something special was arriving for us. We were very positive about it and saw it as a really special gift for us.”

The babies were born at 35 weeks by planned Caesarean section within minutes of each other. Giuseppe, Vittoria and Bruno weighed 2.440kg, 2.320kg and 2.140kg, respectively.

Embracing the joy 

Despite the naturally overwhelming prospect of welcoming not one but three babies into the world at the same time, Vincenzo and Doriana were determined to embrace the positive from the get-go.
 
“We just had to take it step by step,” added Vincenzo, who works in the area of Finance as a legal officer.

For around the first six months, help was at hand in the form of the couple's mothers who took turns to come and stay.

Doriana recalled that getting off to the best start, with an ironclad routine, made the busy schedule more manageable.

“If I think about it in the beginning it was actually quite easy as when they were born all they did was sleep and eat, sleep and eat. Also, it was easy because of a very good routine since the beginning.”

“I have to say at the hospital they were great because they gave me advice straightaway to be consistent on the routine, to feed them regularly at the same time and put them to sleep at the same time.”

“This saved us and we were able to sleep through the night. Consistency was the key. You need to be consistent. There is little flexibility in that sense. For visitors coming you have to still respect the schedule, otherwise it doesn't work.”

The toddlers are now 20 months old and the couple acknowledge that life can be tricky.

Spontaneity is no longer a feature of the day-to-day as everything from playground or supermarket trips to travel is complicated, so pre-planning the minutiae is vital. Also, not to mention the dexterity required for navigating the city centre in their large stroller.

“Triplet life is complicated, but it is our reality. Of course it is difficult, but it is our daily life and it is a matter of organisation of course,” Vincenzo pointed out.

“I cannot just get up and go somewhere. If we want to move, let's start the organisation 30 or 40 minutes before.” 
Aeroplane trips are understandably out of the question for the moment and for their journeys back home to Italy it has to be a road trip.

“For the moment it is still easier to go with the car.” 

Humorous to the heartfelt 

There is much curiosity, amazement and affection from strangers when they are out and about, with passing comments ranging from the humorous to the heartfelt.

“It is very nice and people are always welcoming. When people first see the babies they can see straightaway that the boys are twins but they don't always immediately spot the girl is also there.”

Vincenco recalls in the early months strangers would often exclaim “better you than me,” or “how do you do it”? 
Also, “you have your hands full” is an analysis they often hear.

Other comments from awestruck strangers include questions such as “do you have help?”, “do you have family here?” or “do you work?”

During the early months of being new parents to the triplets, some encouraging words they received stuck with them.

“It was during the first year, it was tough and we were really tired. We met a woman who was also the mother of triplets and her reaction was super nice. She was really positive and said how great and fantastic it was and said well done to us. It was really nice to hear that,” Vincenco revealed.

The doting parents did point out one effect of having triplets on your social life in that people don't tend to invite you over too often. “But that is normal,” they laughed. 

Mounting costs  

Costs can certainly mount when everything has to be bought in threes and adaptations made to existing arrangements. The couple had to move to a new house as well as invest in a seven-seater car to accommodate the expanding family.

The same government allowance, €299.86 per child, applies to a triplet family, but the savvy couple said it's possible to mitigate the costs of certain necessities.

In terms of the transportation system in the early months, the couple used a double pram that they bought second-hand and had a single pram that belonged to Doriana’s sister. Then as the children grew they bought a four-seater stroller, also preloved.

“It is absolutely expensive. The Pampers are very expensive. But we got a lot of clothes and furniture from family. We also found a lot of help in the Italian Catholic community.”

Doriana, who is an engineer, availed of three parental leaves back-to-back. She returned to work in February part-time and her final parental leave will last for a year. The triplets also attend public creche locally in the mornings.

And the best thing about having triplets? Seeing the fledging relationship and the wonderful, heart-warming bond between the three babies, Doriana confirmed, adoringly.

“They are really communicating and interacting in their play and it is very special. If I make one laugh, then the other two also laughs. I can't express how happy this makes me, it is pure love between them. I feel that they have a very special bond. All the sacrifice is worth it when you see that.” 

Recent figures 

CHL Maternity 

2021: 1 set of triplets  
2022: 1 set of triplets 
2023: 5 sets of triplets 
 
There were no triplets born in Bohler Clinic since 2021.