A 30-year-old woman has revealed how she unexpectedly became a mum-of-six after giving birth to triplets.
Monique Davaul, from Virginia, already had three children - her son, 8, and two twin boys, 6, - when she once again fell pregnant.
She had been planning her 30th birthday party when she realised she was eight weeks pregnant.
Initially she was oblivious to the fact there were three babies growing inside her, despite her co-workers joking she could be having multiples after she welcomed twins six years ago.
Her three babies - called Jihad, Mielle and Noelle - were born on April 12, at just 33 weeks.
Speaking to Good Morning America about her situation, Monique said: "I was like 'It's easy.'
"So I guess maybe God said: 'You kept saying it was easy. I got something for you. Let's see what you can do with three.'"
As the pregnancy developed, she realised she was going to give birth to multiple babies as she was "very sick" throughout.
A visit to the doctor confirmed she would be having triplets.
Instead of her originally planned birthday party, she called the venue and had them make it a gender reveal party instead.
Her three children thought she was joking when she told them she was expecting another three at once.
Monique knew what to expect from carrying more than one baby at once but still she had to take four months off.
She attended routine check-ups every two weeks and she eventually gave birth to her triplets, two girls and one boy, via C section at the Riverside Regional Medical Center (RRMC).
They were all discharged after a few weeks in intensive care but home in time for Mother's Day.
Monique's other children try to help out caring for their new siblings.
In a statement to PEOPLE, the RRMC said: "This phenomenon happening naturally is so rare that it's hard to find any statistics on the occurrence."
This comes after another Monique gave birth to unexpected triplets.
Monique Bertrand, 38, had struggled to get pregnant having been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
To help aid her chances, she lost more than six stone – dropping to 12st 5lbs – by switching to a healthier lifestyle.
After seven years, she feared there was “no hope” and she and her partner John, 39, started seriously researching fostering and adoption.
But to her surprise she fell pregnant in April last year.
And at eight weeks, she was even more shocked to find she was carrying not just one child but three.
Doctors delivered Lylah on November 9, 2022 at 2.27pm and Machó at 2.28pm, both weighing 2lbs 8oz, while Trinity was delivered at 2.29pm, weighing 2lbs 1oz, all via c-section.
The trio, now six months old, are thriving after 50 days spent in the special care unit at University Hospital Lewisham in South-East London.
