Tasmanian couple welcomes identical triplets, believed to be state’s first in more than 50 years

A set of identical triplets welcomed into the world last week are believed to be the first such “multiples” born in Tasmania in more than 50 years.

Identical triplets Niara, Aurora and Moana born to Keely Walsh and Mathew Alves on January 2nd at 32 weeks. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A set of identical triplets has been born at the Royal Hobart Hospital in what’s believed to be the first birth of its kind in more than 50 years.

Keely Walsh and Mathew Alves, of the small rural community of Squeaking Point in North-West Tasmania, welcomed their newborn girls Aurora, Niara, and Moana into the world on January 2.

While the state’s Health Department doesn’t keep records of identical births, it’s possible Ms Walsh and Mr Alves’ babies are the first identical triplets to be born in Tasmania since Grant, Steven, and Kent Jackson in 1971.

Keely Walsh and Mathew Alves with identical triplet daughters Niara, Aurora, and Moana born on January 2nd at 32 weeks. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Ms Walsh, a 33-year-old specialist clinical social worker, said she and Mr Alves “couldn’t be happier” after being “blessed” with three healthy baby girls.

“I feel like it’s been such a journey, a one-in-a-million pregnancy, but the girls are so healthy and doing very well,” she said.

“It’s something that we get to cherish for the rest of our lives and know that [the triplets] have this special connection of one egg splitting into three. And for me, it’s just like magic.”

Aurora, Niara, and Moana each weighed about 1.5kg upon birth and are receiving ongoing care in the hospital until late February due to being born prematurely at the 32-week mark of Ms Walsh’s pregnancy.

Multiple births run in the family, with Ms Walsh’s grandmother being a triplet and Mr Alves’s uncle and aunt being twins.

Mathew Alves comforts partner Keely Walsh as she gives birth to identical triplets. Picture: Supplied

According to Mr Alves, his partner’s pregnancy was “quite nerve-racking” because of the health risks associated with multiple births.

“But once the girls were born, it’s the most magical feeling. There’s not really anything that you could use to articulate how you feel,” he said.

“And now we feel like maybe three is not enough, you know?”

Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that about 2-3 per cent of all births in Australia were multiple births in 2022, and of this already small proportion, a tiny 2 per cent were higher order multiples such as triplets, quadruplets, or higher.

There is no consensus when it comes to the likelihood of giving birth to identical triplets, with various reports stating the odds are anywhere between one in 60,000 to one in 200 million.

Identical triplets Niara, Aurora and Moana born to Keely Walsh and Mathew Alves on January 2 at 32 weeks. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Identical triplets occur when a single fertilised egg splits into three separate embryos.

Tasmanian Multiple Birth Association president Rachel Callen said while there were a number of sets of triplets in Tasmania comprising identical twins and a fraternal triplet, it was extremely rare to see identical triplets anywhere in the world.

Ms Callen, who is the mother of two-year-old twin boys, Joey and Lewi, said while there were certain challenges associated with raising ‘multiples’, the experience also offered its own unique joys.

“Watching [the twins] have their own little conversations now, it’s equal parts alarming and joyful because I don’t know what they’re saying to each other but watching that little friendship and watching how they interact with our older son is really, really special, and I think knowing that you almost get a little built-in best mate is really amazing,” she said.

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Originally published as Tasmanian couple welcomes identical triplets, believed to be state’s first in more than 50 years