When Bekki and Stacy Howard count their blessings, they now add three more. The Howards, of Blue Earth, became the parents of healthy triplets this week. They are the first set of triplets delivered at Albert Lea Medical Center in five or six years, said Dr. Stephen Thorn, the attending obstetrician-gynecologist.

The couple had sought out Thorn the first time they wanted a child and experienced infertility problems. “Our daughter’s 3 now, and we had a really good experience, so we came back,” Bekki said.

The doctor prescribed the same fertility drug he had the last time &045; Clomid &045; and after only taking the oral medication through one cycle, Bekki found she was pregnant.

They were all surprised when the first ultrasound &045; done at 6 weeks &045; revealed triplets.

“Multiple births aren’t common with Clomid,” Thorn said. “In fact, the incidence of twins with the drug is only 15 percent, and triplets is much less.”

The couple kept the news to themselves until Thanksgiving, when they told family members, but swore them to secrecy. “We were pretty much in shock ourselves,” Stacy admitted.

The Howards told everyone else about the triplets just after New Year’s, they said.

Meanwhile, Thorn was watching the babies with serial ultrasounds every six weeks.

“We could tell one was a little smaller, but they grew perfectly all the way,” he said.

The entire pregnancy went well, and Bekki only experienced some labor pains once &045; at about 32 or 33 weeks &045; at which time she started bedrest.

“It’s fortunate that this wasn’t her first pregnancy, because the chances of premature labor with a first pregnancy are much greater than with subsequent pregnancies,” Thorn said.

And Bekki had indeed gone into premature labor with their first child several times.

With triplets, the chances of pre-term labor are also very high.

The decision was made to deliver the babies by Caesarean section on Tuesday, at 35 weeks and two days. “Thirty-six weeks is really the maximum you want to wait with triplets,” Thorn said. An amniocentesis revealed that the babies’ lungs were mature enough for delivery, the doctor said.

The medical center was well prepared for the event, with everything from two pediatricians and anesthesia on hand to the Mayo Clinic standing by in case of emergency.

“We had all our ducks in a row,” Thorn said. Will was born first, at 12:37 p.m. Arika followed at 12:38, and Britt and 12:39. Thorn was surprised at how big the babies actually were. Will weighed 5 pounds, 6 ounces, and was 18 inches long; Arika weighed 5 pounds, 5 ounces, and was 18 inches long; and Britt weighed 4 pounds, 12 ounces, and was 17 1/2 inches long.

Thorn credits Bekki for taking good care of herself throughout the pregnancy. “A potential problem turned out to be a success. It’s just short of a miracle. The patient and her family were just great,” he said.

The Howards feel the same way about Thorn. “Doctors like Dr. Thorn are one in a million,” Bekki said.

The plan is for Bekki and all three babies — who for now the couple is telling apart by their caps — to be sent home Saturday.

“The seats are loaded up in the van,” Stacy said.

The couple has gone out of their way to continue to make big sister Reegan feel special. She knows all these babies will be coming to her house to stay, they said.

Their home is also ready — for now. But Bekki anticipates that in another year they’ll be finding they’ve outgrown the space.

“We’ll be OK as long as they always get along together,” Stacy said.

And their support system is in place. Two sets of grandparents live within two blocks of the family. Bekki also has a sister in Blue Earth.

“And we also have lots of friends for support,” she said.