Hannah and Tom Hepner of Quincy, parents of identical triplets, hold, from left, Abby, Laurel and Brindabella in a self care room at Sutter Memorial on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013 in Sacramento, Calif. The triplets were born at Sutter Memorial Hospital on Nov. 22, 2013 (AP Photo/The Sacramento Bee, Randy Pench)
December 04, 2013 - 8:23 PM
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Doctors at a Northern California hospital say a couple has given birth to a rare set of naturally conceived identical triplets.
The Sacramento Bee reports (http://bit.ly/1hyPwlB ) Abby, Brin and Laurel Hepner were born Nov. 22 at Sutter Memorial Hospital to Hannah and Tom Hepner, of Quincy.
The triplets were produced when a single, fertilized egg split into three.
Dr. William Gilbert, director of Sutter Women's Services, says the odds of producing identical triplets without fertility drugs range from 1-in-1-million to 1-in-100-million.
He said the rarity makes it difficult to more accurately calculate the frequency of such births.
Abby weighed 3 pounds, 2 ounces; Brin 3 pounds, 11 ounces; and Laurel 4 pounds.
The triplets are still in the hospital until they can maintain body temperature and eat properly.
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Information from: The Sacramento Bee, http://www.sacbee.com
News from © The Associated Press, 2013