Triplets’ mother praises hospital

THE mother of snow baby triplets who arrived into the world eight weeks early has said they might not have made it but for the fantastic work of staff at their local hospital.

“Snow babies” Aaron, Finn, and Ryan Hayden-Freeman were born on Wednesday morning, December 1, at Wexford General Hospital, following a dramatic few hours after their mother Mandy Hayden-Freeman woke up with labour pains at 5am.

Mandy’s husband, John, contacted the emergency services at 6.12am on Wednesday, December 1, and, while they tried to organise a helicopter, two regular ambulances and two with four-wheel-drive set off to her house from Wexford General Hospital.

An ambulance worker at Wexford General talked John through about what to do as his wife was having contractions.

Eventually, one of the four-wheel-drives reached the house with two midwives on board, and got the expectant mother to Wexford at about 9.30am. Little over half an hour later, Aaron made his appearance, followed three minutes later by Finn and, after another minute, Ryan.

Mandy said: “I have a lot to be thankful for. If Wexford General wasn’t here, under no circumstances would I have made it to Dublin or Waterford in time.

“I wouldn’t have had three sons lying across from me in a maternity ward like I do today.”

The acute hospital is one of four in the South-East which is currently under review amid fears its services may be cut as part of a regional reconfiguration.