May 8, 2026 • 5 mins
An East County woman is celebrating her first Mother's Day this weekend, after giving birth to triplets just 14 weeks ago. Her pregnancy was one of the rarest in medicine, occurring only once every 100,000 pregnancies. Veronica and Bret talked to her OBGYN, the medical director of maternal-fetal medicine at Scripps Clinic, Dr. Sean Daneshmand, who says he'd never seen anything like it before.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
A twenty year old woman is celebrating her first Mother's
Day on Sunday after having one of the rarest pregnancies
in medicine, naturally conceived triplets sharing just one placenta.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Joining us now on the Coco News liveline is her
obg y n and Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine at
Scripts Clinic, doctor Sean Denishman. Thank you so much for
joining us on San Diego's Morning News.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
So let's talk about a couple of things. First place,
tell us the condition and tell us how rare it is.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
So, this is a very rare pregnancy where uh, this
is a spontaneous triplet, So one in one hundred thousand
pregnancies where you would see this type of a placentation. Remember,
typically most triplet pregnancies are we see them through IVF
pregnancies spontaneously. You know, having triplets is very rare, and
(00:51):
been on top of it, having only one placenta that
three babies share is also very uncommon.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Can you explain that a little bit more at the
risk of me asking a dumb question, and then you're
a man, you don't understand the.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Oh my god, you guys are so funny.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
Look, I mean, typically in a singleton pregnancy, you have
a placenta that is acting as you know, the organ
that basically supplies oxygen to the baby gets all the
you know, toxins away, which is essentially mom is doing everything,
but that placenta excess that intermediary right. And in a
triplet pregnancy, you know, typically with IVF pregnancies, you have
(01:28):
three placentas caring for each you know, one for each baby. Wow,
So when you have one placenta only you know, with
you know, taking care of three babies, you.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Know, the complications are significantly higher. I just one of
the biggest contract kids.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
I just didn't know that that a pregnant woman could
have more than one placenta. That this is new to
me and maybe I'm just in the dark.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Ages No, that happens with multiples, but you know this,
this one is very rare.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
I mean I've been a very busy.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Maternal fetal medicine position, and I've never seen a triple
of pregnancy with you know, one one percenta typically we've
seen two percentas this means that the zygote had to
split twice, you know, to have three babies, but just
one placenta, which incases the risk for the pregnancy significantly.
One of them being when you have one placenta is
that one baby, for example, may get a lot more
(02:19):
blood because they're always exchanging blood within the placenta.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
But if there is a.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
Abnormal distribution of blood from one baby to the other,
you know, one baby gets a whole lot of blood
and the other baby doesn't get as much. This is
a condition called twin to twin transfusion syndrome where one
baby's pants using the other one and not getting it
back in return. And this happens about about a quarter
of pregnancies with this epic of presentation with triplets, and
(02:45):
that carries significant morbidity and mortality for the babies. So
you know moms have to be monitored a lot more frequently.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Well, we are talking to doctor Sean de Nishman from
Script's Clinic, and let's talk a little bit about the patient.
So it's an East County woman, Mikaela Tony. She probably
had no idea first place that she would have triplets
and then second place that she would be, you know,
having such a rare condition. How is mom and the
(03:15):
babies and what did you learn from this rare pregnancy.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
Well, you know, the mom and dad are both just
amazing people. First of all, everyone was shocked, and then
on top of it, you know, you hear in maternal
fetal medicine specials who should be we should have seen
a lot tells them I've never seen this type of
a presentation. But that you know, the thing that's important
is the relationship between the medical team and also the patient.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
That's extremely important. And also you.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
Know this this couple, they have a very good support system.
You know, the whole family was involved, So that makes
a huge difference as far as kind of building confidence
and you know, supporting them because this is a very
difficult time. You know, Number one, you have a lot
more appointments. There's a lot of unknowns here. I remember
moms going you know, with these types of pregnancies, any
(04:08):
kind of complicated pregnancies, there's a lot of unknowns. So
there's a lot of stress involved. That's why the support
system is extremely important. And remember Nikla spent some time
in the hospital because of you know, one of the
babies not growing as much, so you know that, so
now all of a sudden you've taken away from home
and are you're spending every night in the hospital, so
which is very difficult. So, I mean, I have a
(04:30):
tremendous amount of respect to this family. You know, they're
just good people and just wonderful, wonderful.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Parents, and they deserve a really wonderful Mother's day. Boy,
that's going to be special.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
Doctor.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Cute babies by the way, which you can see on
our our X page on Cogo.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Oh, we posted a picture of the triplets. That's so great. Doctor,
Thank you so much for what you're doing that Scripts
appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Thank you so much for what you're doing. I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
All right you medical director of the Maternal Fetal Medicine
at Scripts Clinic. That's doctor Sean Denischmund.
A twenty year old woman is celebrating her first Mother's
Day on Sunday after having one of the rarest pregnancies
in medicine, naturally conceived triplets sharing just one placenta.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Joining us now on the Coco News liveline is her
obg y n and Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine at
Scripts Clinic, doctor Sean Denishman. Thank you so much for
joining us on San Diego's Morning News.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
So let's talk about a couple of things. First place,
tell us the condition and tell us how rare it is.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
So, this is a very rare pregnancy where uh, this
is a spontaneous triplet, So one in one hundred thousand
pregnancies where you would see this type of a placentation. Remember,
typically most triplet pregnancies are we see them through IVF
pregnancies spontaneously. You know, having triplets is very rare, and
(00:51):
been on top of it, having only one placenta that
three babies share is also very uncommon.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Can you explain that a little bit more at the
risk of me asking a dumb question, and then you're
a man, you don't understand the.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Oh my god, you guys are so funny.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
Look, I mean, typically in a singleton pregnancy, you have
a placenta that is acting as you know, the organ
that basically supplies oxygen to the baby gets all the
you know, toxins away, which is essentially mom is doing everything,
but that placenta excess that intermediary right. And in a
triplet pregnancy, you know, typically with IVF pregnancies, you have
(01:28):
three placentas caring for each you know, one for each baby. Wow,
So when you have one placenta only you know, with
you know, taking care of three babies, you.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Know, the complications are significantly higher. I just one of
the biggest contract kids.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
I just didn't know that that a pregnant woman could
have more than one placenta. That this is new to
me and maybe I'm just in the dark.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Ages No, that happens with multiples, but you know this,
this one is very rare.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
I mean I've been a very busy.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Maternal fetal medicine position, and I've never seen a triple
of pregnancy with you know, one one percenta typically we've
seen two percentas this means that the zygote had to
split twice, you know, to have three babies, but just
one placenta, which incases the risk for the pregnancy significantly.
One of them being when you have one placenta is
that one baby, for example, may get a lot more
(02:19):
blood because they're always exchanging blood within the placenta.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
But if there is a.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
Abnormal distribution of blood from one baby to the other,
you know, one baby gets a whole lot of blood
and the other baby doesn't get as much. This is
a condition called twin to twin transfusion syndrome where one
baby's pants using the other one and not getting it
back in return. And this happens about about a quarter
of pregnancies with this epic of presentation with triplets, and
(02:45):
that carries significant morbidity and mortality for the babies. So
you know moms have to be monitored a lot more frequently.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Well, we are talking to doctor Sean de Nishman from
Script's Clinic, and let's talk a little bit about the patient.
So it's an East County woman, Mikaela Tony. She probably
had no idea first place that she would have triplets
and then second place that she would be, you know,
having such a rare condition. How is mom and the
(03:15):
babies and what did you learn from this rare pregnancy.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
Well, you know, the mom and dad are both just
amazing people. First of all, everyone was shocked, and then
on top of it, you know, you hear in maternal
fetal medicine specials who should be we should have seen
a lot tells them I've never seen this type of
a presentation. But that you know, the thing that's important
is the relationship between the medical team and also the patient.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
That's extremely important. And also you.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
Know this this couple, they have a very good support system.
You know, the whole family was involved, So that makes
a huge difference as far as kind of building confidence
and you know, supporting them because this is a very
difficult time. You know, Number one, you have a lot
more appointments. There's a lot of unknowns here. I remember
moms going you know, with these types of pregnancies, any
(04:08):
kind of complicated pregnancies, there's a lot of unknowns. So
there's a lot of stress involved. That's why the support
system is extremely important. And remember Nikla spent some time
in the hospital because of you know, one of the
babies not growing as much, so you know that, so
now all of a sudden you've taken away from home
and are you're spending every night in the hospital, so
which is very difficult. So, I mean, I have a
(04:30):
tremendous amount of respect to this family. You know, they're
just good people and just wonderful, wonderful.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Parents, and they deserve a really wonderful Mother's day. Boy,
that's going to be special.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
Doctor.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Cute babies by the way, which you can see on
our our X page on Cogo.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Oh, we posted a picture of the triplets. That's so great. Doctor,
Thank you so much for what you're doing that Scripts
appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Thank you so much for what you're doing. I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
All right you medical director of the Maternal Fetal Medicine
at Scripts Clinic. That's doctor Sean Denischmund.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Hey Jonas!
Hey Jonas! The official Jonas Brothers podcast. Hosted by Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas. It’s the Jonas Brothers you know... musicians, actors, and well, yes, brothers. Now, they’re sharing another side of themselves in the playful, intimate, and irreverent way only they can. Spend time with the Jonas Brothers here and stay a little bit longer for deep conversations like never before.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.