Rare Triplets Are Born Identical

It was a triple whammy for Kristen and Thomas Hewitt from Baltimore on October 6, when they got their rare identical triplets at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center.

All three were born after 33-and-a-half weeks in the womb, through a C-section operation, and were named Thomas III, Finnegan and Oliver. Each weighed three to five pounds.

"Through our relationship, we've found that Tom and I work the best under pressure, so we take the triplets as not only a blessing, but also a challenge that we're most certainly up for," Kristen Hewitt said, according to Fox News.

You can read more about the couple's ecstasy in their blog.

The triplets are rare as their embryos were all from one fertilized egg, which separated after being fertilised. They were conceived without drugs for fertility.

"Incidence of fraternal twins are much higher (90%) than identical (10%), but it is even a more significant ratio for triplets," said Victor A. Khouzami, the medical director of the hospital's Department of Obstetrics and Women's and Infant Services, CNN reported.

"As you can see, to have a patient with spontaneous identical triplets is incredibly rare," Khouzami added.

Now the entire house is expected to undergo a complete overhaul, with the arrival of the triplets.

"We want to run things like a small army and be really regimented," Thomas Hewitt said, according to the Baltimore Sun. "In reality, it'll be more like a pirate ship, complete with mutinies."

They live with a family in Baltimore along with the 11-year-old dog, Jersey. With the help of color-coded anklets and bracelets they will be able to distinguish the triplets.