Triplets born at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

07.10.2014

Courtesy Story

Fort Cavazos Public Affairs Office

By Patricia Deal CRDAMC Public Affairs

FORT HOOD, Texas—Three teeny, little girls created a big fuss at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center here June 30.

Harlee Quinn, Chloeann Odette and Virginia Ann Potter made their debut early in the morning, earning them the distinction of being the first set of triplets born at CRDAMC in the last five years.

The girls are the first children for Spc. David Potter and his wife Tara, both 23 years old. The girls were born by Caesarian section at 34 weeks, weighing in at just over four pounds each. Babies and mom are all doing well, with the girls staying in the neonatal intensive care unit at CRDAMC as is typical for multiple-birth newborns.

The Potters are already hard at work setting up a routine taking turns caring for the girls--feeding, changing, cuddling--and how to identify each one. Potter said they are not identical so it's a bit easier, and they are each starting to show their own personalities.

Potter, an all-wheel mechanic with 1st Cavalry Division, and Tara have been at Fort Hood only for a few months. Tara said she knew she was having triplets from the start, having to use fertility treatments to conceive. While both parents have twins in their families, this is the first set of triplets.

"We were surprised at first, as it is daunting to think about having multiple babies to take care of all at once. But we're just so happy to have them no matter how many there are. It's exciting. They're healthy and beautiful and that's all that matters," she said.

Dad agrees, but said he is thinking about how life is going to be raising three girls the same age. "I'm already thinking about proms, college, weddings," he said, "and those first dates. Yes, I will be prepared."

CRDAMC's labor and delivery unit is one of the busiest in the Army, averaging approximately eight births per day. In recent months, the staff has seen a jump in those numbers with one record-setting day seeing 13 births, according to the Chief of Maternal Child Health.

• Date Taken: 07.10.2014
• Date Posted: 07.10.2014 05:14
• Story ID: 135700
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US