Photos by Marlene McPherson
LEFT: The Phillips family (from left, back) Cardo and Ricko (first set of twins), Anthony (father), Memphis and Phoenix (second set of twins). (Front) Omoya Layne (second child) and mother Tanniesha with the third set of twins, Mike Anthony and Mark Anthony. Absent from photo is Olivia Morris, the eldest child.
RIGHT: Mike Anthony Phillips and Mark Anthony Phillips at two days old.

Marlene McPherson, Outlook Writer

Few mothers have the joy of giving single birth and thereafter are blessed with three sets of twins - all in a row.

But for Tanniesha Ranking Phillips, of East Prospect, St Thomas, that is her experience. Outlook was called to the Princess Margaret Hospital, where her third set of twins were delivered, on Monday, April 28, at 6:08 p.m.

Felt the twins

Mike Anthony Phillips, weighing 2.75 kg, was delivered, and 12 minutes later, Mark Anthony Phillips, weighing 2.05 kg, followed.

"I knew I would have twins, as I felt just as how I felt with my previous pregnancies," stated Tanniesha Phillips.

She, however, said she felt fearful during this delivery, but this feeling did not overcome her, as she was reassured of God's presence by the nurse.

"It is the first time that a nurse introduced herself to me and prayed for me. She said, 'I am Nurse Royal and I am here to assist you, and God is going to see you through.' Then she prayed and this calmed me," said Tanniesha. She commended the nurses for being polite.

This expressive 28-year-old mother thinks she is blessed."God has blessed me because as I felt pain I give birth," she said, adding that her husband Anthony was present at the time of the birth.

Two single daughters

Tanniesha's first two pregnancies produced two daughters, who are now 11 and nine years old. She remembers that when she became pregnant with the first set of twins she had no idea she was having twins, although she had prayed for them.

So, here she was in the delivery ward at the University Hospital of the West Indies on May 16, 2001. She delivered the baby and the nurse exclaimed, "How is it that you gave birth and your belly is still big?"

Phillips said, "She examined me and felt another head."

And so she gave birth to two boys, Cardo and Ricko Phillips, weighing 2.14 kg and 2.04 kg, respectively. Both are now pupils at the Power of Faith Basic School in St Thomas.

Husband fainted

Phillips said that her husband was present at their birth, however, this proved to be a traumatic experience for him. Although he was supportive and encouraged her to 'push, push', he was not strong enough to see her through the process.

"I saw cold sweat wash him and the nurse had to help him to a chair, before he fainted. She then took him outside the labour room," Phillips said, and laughed aloud.

Dr Colin Graham, who was present, interjected, "Most men take this matter quiet seriously and react differently. Some pace the floor, some start drinking, while others expressed a willingness to be in the room with their spouse, but get pale and faint."

Name choices

Her second set of twins were born at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital on May 30, 2002. This time it was a boy and a girl named Phoenix and Memphis - named after two places in the United States. When questioned about the choice of names, she explained, "Hopefully, they'll reach there one day."

Tanniesha and Anthony have twins in their family. Her aunt has twins and her aunt's daughter has twins, while her husband's mother also has twins.

Both parents are vendors and see life as a challenge with the high cost of living. Nevertheless, they aim to keep all the children healthy and do not contemplate having anymore for now.

When Outlook visited the home, Anthony was busy cooking, while Tanniesha was resting with the young ones. The other children were at play.