AN EXPECTANT mother was unable to meet her new-born triplets after being diagnosed with coronavirus.

Ashleigh Shirajudin, from Rhos-on-Sea, had to wait a week to see her children at Glan Clwyd Hospital after testing positive for Covid-19 during a routine pre-op appointment just days before giving birth by C-section.

“The phone call was a bit of a blur but all I remember them saying is I would probably have to give birth alone and wouldn’t be able to see my babies when they were born until my isolation period was over,” said Mrs Shirajudin, aged 30.

“I spent the whole day and night crying.”

North Wales Chronicle: Midwives carry out Mrs Shirajudin's C-section procedure, during which she had coronavirus, fully dressed in PPEMidwives carry out Mrs Shirajudin's C-section procedure, during which she had coronavirus, fully dressed in PPE

It came as an unwelcome surprise for the care worker, who had not experienced any symptoms, and caused a lot of added pressure to her pregnancy which was already high risk, having developed chloestatis while the babies were due six weeks early, weighing just three pounds.

Her C-section was brought forward by several days and while she was allowed to have partner Chris at her side she knew she would not be able to properly meet her children for some time.

It was an unexpectedly rushed pregnancy for her and partner Chris, also from Rhos-on-Sea, after they had planned for the pregnancy by IVF and were initially only expecting one child.

North Wales Chronicle: The triplets were looked after in the neonatal ward at Glan Clwyd Hospital.The triplets were looked after in the neonatal ward at Glan Clwyd Hospital.

“The surgeon lifted the girls up so we got to have a look at them for a few seconds,” she said. “They were tiny but absolutely perfect and screaming loudly which made me so happy knowing that they were all OK.

“As soon as each were born, they were taken away from us, into a different room and after a few minutes they were all out and all gone over to special care and we weren’t allowed to see them.

“After years of trying for a baby this isn’t how I had imagined the birth to be.”

It was the end of a hectic few days but the beginning of a week of anguish as she longed to be with her new-born daughters Mia, Millie and Molly Mae. Partner Chris, nine-year-old daughter Layla and her parents were also waiting for their return.

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“I had to isolate in the ward for a few days, stuck in a room in hospital on my own and I wasn’t allowed to see the babies or my family,” said Mrs Shirajudin.

“Babies are meant to have skin-on-skin contact all they had was staff touching them with gloves on.

“The staff were really understanding and said they couldn’t believe that I couldn’t see the babies, and one even brought me a gift.”

She was allowed to go home on day four but had the “surreal” feeling of leaving her babies at the hospital without saying goodbye as they continued to receive care due to their low weight.

“Going home alone without the babies felt strange but I had known from the beginning that they would have to be in special care for a while, just not that I wouldn’t be able to meet them,” she said.

“The thing that kept us going was that the girls were all little strong fighters, after a day they could breathe all by themselves and they were feeding really well too.

North Wales Chronicle: Mrs Shirajudin's nine-year-old daughter Layla has been helping to care for her sisters since they came home.Mrs Shirajudin's nine-year-old daughter Layla has been helping to care for her sisters since they came home.

“I was trying to recover and fight back the tears over the fact that we had had our perfect triplet girls but we only saw them for a few seconds before they were being taken away.

“We were counting down the long slow days until we would finally be able to bond and have our first cuddles.”

On the eighth day Mrs Shirajudin was finally allowed to meet her girls, although Chris would not be for another 10 days under hospital Covid restrictions.

Tragically just 15 days after the babies’ grandmother Rosemarie, whom Mia's middle name Rose comes from, lost her fight to coronavirus.

“After seven long days I was finally able to be reunited with my girls,” said Mrs Shirajudin.

“I’m just glad [their nan] got to see pictures of the girls and I named one of them after her.

“Now we are enjoying our busy live with our triplets. They are properly mine as now it is me rather than everyone else looking after them.

“It’s been lovely since being home.”

Debra Hickman, acting exectuvie director of nursing and midwifery at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: “We recognise that these restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic can be extremely difficult and upsetting for new parents.

“Our first priority in implementing this guidance is the safety of our patients, service users and visitors in prevention and control of infection in our healthcare settings. This is especially important when transmission of the virus is high, and we are seeing its impact in communities and hospitals across the region.

“We are really pleased to hear mum and babies are doing well and we wish them all the best for the future.”

Follow Mrs Shirajudin as she shares her journey with her new family members on Instagram at @mum2tripletsplusprincess