Jasmine Bourchier is buying all her baby essentials in three’s, and is quickly learning of the intense financial pressure that comes with having five-month-old triplets.
Key points: In Australia, additional Paid Parental Leave (PPL) is not provided to families of twins, triplets, or moreThe Australian Multiple Birth Association says having triplets is 13 times more expensive than having a singletonMother of triplets Jasmine Bourchier says the lack of additional PPL is demoralising and “morally unfair”After electing 12 months of maternity leave from her job, Ms Bourchier spent a month in hospital — both in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and special care.
“Already a significant chunk of my maternity leave was contributed to them being in hospital and not even under our care from day one,” Ms Bourchier said.
Her triplets are battling a range of chronic conditions and other medical challenges, requiring specialist assistance from dermatologists, neurosurgeons, and plastic surgeons.
One of her triplets also has a rare birth defect called ‘craniosynostosis’ and will need “major remodelling” of his skull at 10 to 12 months old.
Jasmine Bouchier does not want to rush to return to work when her babies are young even, though it comes with financial restraints.(Supplied: Jasmine Bouchier)”I need more time with them, especially during these periods of uncertainty and I don’t want to rush this phase and feel the pressure to need to go back to work early, even though there are fina..