A same-sex couple happily received three times the blessing with the arrival of their newborn triplets. Report claim that this is the world's first same-sex triple birth via surrogacy. The babies were conceive using the DNA of both dads.
According to The Telegraph, South African same-sex couple Theo and Christo Menelaou's sperms were able to fertilize one egg each. However, during the course of the pregnancy, one of the eggs split. Thus, two of the triplets are actual identical twins. Doctors say that this rarely happens.
However, the pregnancy didn't come without any complications and doctors advised the couple and their surrogate mom to terminate two of the fetus to give the remaining fetus a chance to survive. Yet, the fathers persisted and Joshua, Zoe and Kate were born at under 31 weeks this July.
The triplets, who were born via caesarian and weighed at 2.9 lbs (Kate), 3.1 lbs (Zoe) and 4 lbs (Joshua), remained in the hospital for a few more weeks and fought to survive. But they miraculously made it and as of Aug. 4, all babies are home with their fathers, per The Sun. Zoe will have to undergo heart surgery before she reaches six months old, but nonetheless, the beaming fathers feel very blessed.
Christo Menalaou couldn't believe their fate, especially since they didn't expect they could become fathers of their very own children together. "When you are gay, there is always the thought that it just may not be possible to be a parent no matter how much you would love to be," he told newsmen.
The Menalaous did consider adoption in the beginning, but the process makes it even harder because of the fact that they are a same-sex couple. According to Sky News, South African laws are strict when it comes to surrogacy. Everyone involved, including the husband of the surrogate mom, will have to sign affidavits before a judge. Learn more about this family's story in the video below.
