One of my goals in life is to meet triplets. I consider them even stranger than DNA duplicates of a higher number because they are the most proportionally uneven. Few books, studies, etc. have documented their behavior -- probably because the chances of birthing identical triplets are much lower than fraternal triplets (in which science is less interested). Thus, they are more like three siblings born during the same year. That, added to the fact that there are three, might render void any sort of connection similar to what most twins seem to experience.
The absence of a twin-like connection among triplets is probably for the best, for it might not be evenly distributed among the twins. Most likely, the quintuplets recently born in Texas will be related in the fraternal way than the identical one. They do, however, have an interesting distribution of sexes. Four are girls and the fifth is a boy -- a ratio which is probably more agreeable than all girls or all boys -- according to the NY Daily News.
As is usually the case, Michelle Seals, the 33 year-old mother, was on fertility medication leading up to her pregnancy. She didn't know she was carrying more than two until the pregnancy progressed.
"There at the beginning we'd go back every week and they'd find a few more," she said. "We were shocked."
Twenty-nine weeks in (about 8 weeks early, which isn't that early for quintuplets), she had them by Caesarian section. They ranged in size from two pounds seven ounces to three pounds six ounces, according to the Daily News. Though they'll be in the hospital for almost another two months, they are doing "remarkably well," according to Baylor University Medical Center Director of Neonatology Dr. Vijay Nama.
Texas, remember these names: Mia, Tessa, Brant, Gracie and Rayleigh. They could be the starting five of a co-ed youth basketball team in the next 5-8 years.
The Seals also have a two year old son.
