Multiple Birth Volunteer Support Program helps with Vermont South triplets

These parents got more than they bargained for when mum Lavanya gave birth to triplets just 30 weeks into her pregnancy and only one month after their five-year-old son started school. But an “amazing” volunteer program is keeping them going.

Ram, Meera, and Aadhi with their big brother, Vyaas.

If you think you’re busy, spare a thought for Vermont South couple Lavanya Sundararajan and Raj Mohanraj.

Ms Sundararajan gave birth to triplets just 30 weeks into her pregnancy and only one month after their five-year-old son Vyaas started school.

But Ms Sundararajan said it was almost as if their babies came exactly at the right time.

She went into labour just hours after her parents arrived from India to support the couple.

She said it was like the children knew they could make their debut, having been struggling to fit in her small frame.

“They knew help was around.”

And help was — and is — certainly needed.

Lavanya Sundararajan and husband Raj Mohanraj and their five-year-old Vyaas have welcomed triplets.

Premmies Aadhi, Ram and Meera were all immediately taken into intensive care when they arrived on February 24, with the last to go home only released from hospital two weeks ago.

The parents spent eight weeks being “torn between home and hospital”, trying to care for their five-year-old son Vyaas while dealing with the different release dates and conditions of their triplets.

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Now they are all home, Ms Sundararajan said she felt very lucky to have three healthy babies.

She said the health of her children was the main concern when she found out she was having triplets, even though the couple had only planned on one more child.

The mother-of-four, who turned 42 last week, said they had to navigate a very high-risk pregnancy.

Triplets Ram, Meera, and Aadhi are certainly keeping their parents busy.

Ms Sundararajan said the challenges of having three babies at home was also very different to when she cared for her first child.

She said Aadhi, Ram and Meera would all want food or attention at the same time and it was difficult to space out their feeds and nappy changes.

Luckily, the couple have just started receiving help from the Multiple Birth Volunteer Support Program.

Volunteers visit their Vermont South home daily to help with baby-related tasks.

Ms Sundararajan said the support from the “amazing” volunteers was “a god send”.

She said the program was particularly valuable to women like her who didn’t have family nearby.

“It’s fantastic we have a program like this,” she said.

“People like us wouldn’t be able to survive without it.”

Mr Mohanraj finally returned to his physiotherapy work on the weekend for the first time since the triplets were born.

He said there was no way he would be able to go back “peacefully” without the program’s support.

The Multiple Birth Volunteer Support Program has been helping Melbourne families for 22 years.

Anyone interested in helping the Sundararajan family or another Melbourne family for around four hours a week can phone Jill on 0418 334 209 or email [e-mail].