In just one day, the size of Rina and Atul Jain’s family more than doubled. The Clear Lake couple’s triplets – two boys and a girl – were delivered by cesarean section at Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital on October 24, 2014.
“While I know she is tired, Rina is doing great and has lots of support from her husband and both sets of new grandparents,” said Thomas F. Rowe, MD, FACOG, who is Rina’s obstetrician and specializes in high risk deliveries. “The babies are very healthy and were able to stay in her room, instead of the higher level of care in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, out of approximately 4 million births, there are only about 5,500 triplet births each year in the United States.
“Twins do run in both of our families, but triplets were definitely a surprise,” said Rina, who delivered the triplets at 35 weeks and one day. “Dr. Rowe couldn’t have been better throughout my pregnancy and the delivery; he has such a calm, caring manner that made us feel instantly at ease and less anxious.”
Board certified in obstetrics, gynecology, and maternal fetal medicine, Rowe performs preconception counseling, management of complicated pregnancies, first and second trimester genetic screening, abnormal genetic screening results, prenatal diagnosis, screening and targeting ultrasounds, fetal echocardiograms, and in utero therapy.
The Jain boys, Adi and Avi, are identical twins and weighed five pounds, five ounces and five pounds, three ounces respectively. Their little sister, Riya, was born last and weighed four pounds, 11 ounces.
“While Riya is the smallest, she is the most active and makes the cutest faces when she’s sleeping,” said Rina. “We are happy, excited, and have so much love for each of our precious babies.”
“The nurses and staff at Memorial Hermann Southeast have been so friendly, knowledgeable, and understanding about everything we’re going through,” said Atul. “Even the little things like sleep - the first night, the nurses fed the babies so we get a short nap.”
With its partner, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Memorial Hermann Southeast operates a Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic offering such high-risk obstetrical services as prenatal testing, genetic consultation, pre-pregnancy counseling, and specialized fetal care. Available diagnostic testing includes comprehensive and targeted fetal ultrasound, amniocentesis, fetal biophysical profile, non-stress tests, umbilical artery Doppler studies, DNA and enzyme analysis, and specialized laboratory diagnostics.
“Our patients are our top priority,” said Women's & Children's Services Director Nikole Keenan, RN, BSN. “We are concerned about high level issues, as well as patient and family specific items. These might be minor for us, but make a big difference to the patient and her family.”
After delivery, new mothers are transferred to the hospital’s Mother-Baby Unit for couplet care, which allows mothers and newborns to remain together throughout their stay. The unit features private rooms, a highly sophisticated security monitoring system, and experienced, neonatal nursing staff.
In addition to Rowe and his colleague, Linda A. Goodrum, MD, FACOG, who is also board certified in obstetrics, gynecology, and maternal fetal medicine,the medical staff at Memorial Hermann Southeast includes neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, and a specialized team of nurses, therapists, pharmacists, dietitians, and social workers working together in its Family Centered Care environment.
Memorial Hermann Southeast is equipped to care for most infants 28 weeks and older in its Level III NICU. In the event a baby needs a higher level of care, Memorial Hermann Life Flight® offers a dedicated Neonatal Transport Team to Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital.