Ashlie Holladay shares the incredible journey that led to the birth of her triplets after months of infertility, surgery to remove a blocked fallopian tube, and the surprise of a spontaneous pregnancy. What began as heartbreaking news at a fertility clinic became a story of hope, healing and three tiny miracles.
Ashlie discusses her Tri-Tri (trichorionic trimester) triplet pregnancy, working closely with her maternal-fetal medicine specialist, and how she unexpectedly became a candidate for a vaginal triplet birth. She also shares her induction with Pitocin, getting an epidural, giving birth to two sets of babies, and the trip to the NICU that followed.
This conversation is a beautiful reminder that every pregnancy is different and that birth plans can evolve in unexpected ways. Ashlie’s story offers hope to families struggling with infertility, while emphasizing the importance of trusting your medical team and your own intuition.
Fertility challenges and unexpected hope
Ashlie’s journey to motherhood began with heartbreak. After being referred to a fertility clinic in February 2024, routine tests revealed that her right fallopian tube was completely blocked, greatly increasing the risk of an ectopic pregnancy and making natural conception much less likely.
Doctors recommended surgery to remove the damaged tube and in May 2024 she underwent a successful salpingectomy. After treatment, she and her husband continued fertility monitoring while dealing with the emotional ups and downs of negative pregnancy tests and wondering if they would ever become parents.
On Christmas Eve everything changed. Ashley took a pregnancy test that morning and saw the positive result she and her husband had been praying for. Even more remarkably, the pregnancy happened naturally without IVF – a blessing they never expected after all they had been through.
At their first ultrasound in January, the surprises continued. Instead of one heartbeat, they discovered three. Ashlie spontaneously carried triplets, a moment she describes as one she will never forget.
A healthy triplet pregnancy
Ashlie’s pregnancy was diagnosed as a Tri-Tri, meaning each baby had its own placenta and amniotic sac. Aside from the typical first trimester nausea, mild bloating, fatigue, and occasional acid reflux, she experienced a remarkably smooth pregnancy.
Her maternal-fetal medicine specialist often reassured her that she had an “uneventful triplet pregnancy,” which was exactly what she had hoped to hear. She set a personal goal of reaching 35 weeks and proudly carried all three babies to exactly 35 weeks.
Opting for vaginal delivery
Early in the pregnancy, Ashlie assumed she would need a scheduled c-section. She was shocked when Dr. Perez explained that because Baby A remained head down, she was actually an excellent candidate for a vaginal delivery of triplets.
After discussing the risks and benefits with her husband, they felt at ease going forward with a planned vaginal birth. Trusting her doctor’s expertise allowed Ashley to adopt a birth plan she never thought possible.
Work and delivery
Ashlie was admitted on the evening of July 30, 2025, for scheduled admission. She was already 4cm dilated, started Pitocin, later had her water broken and asked for an epidural when the contractions intensified in the wee hours of the morning.
At 4:42 a.m., she was wheeled into the operating room where a large multidisciplinary team prepared for the arrival of all three babies. After pushing for about 40 to 50 minutes, Jameson was born at 5:54 am. and was immediately placed on her breast.
Just six minutes later, Dawson arrived at 6:00am, followed by Emerson at 6:02am. Although Emerson briefly needed a breathing assessment and Dawson needed additional ventilatory support, Ashlie was able to experience skin-to-skin with each baby and, incredibly, hold all three babies to her chest before they were taken to the NICU.
Postpartum Recovery
Ashlie is deeply grateful for the doctor and medical team that supported her through such a rare birth. Because she avoided major abdominal surgery, she recovered quickly, did not experience tearing, and was able to devote her energy to visiting her babies in the NICU, bonding with them, and creating her milk.
Looking back, she describes the experience as one of the greatest blessings of her life and hopes her story encourages other families facing infertility to continue to hold on to hope.
Ashlie Holladay proudly calls Fairhope, Alabama home and has been married to her college sweetheart since 2020. Together they welcomed their beautiful triplets—Jameson, Dawson, and Emerson—in 2025 after a remarkable infertility journey.
She loves sharing life with her growing family and encouraging others through their own paths to parenthood.
Providers & Specialists
- Dr. Perez — Ashlie’s maternal-fetal medicine specialist who guided her high-risk triplet pregnancy and supported her planned vaginal delivery of triplets.
- Fertility Clinic — Provided fertility evaluation, follow-up and diagnosis after her blocked fallopian tube was discovered.
Pregnancy and birth issues
- Tri-Tri (Trichorionic Triamniotic) Triplet Pregnancy — A triplet pregnancy where each baby has a separate placenta and amniotic sac.
- Salpingectomy — Surgery to remove Ashlie’s blocked right fallopian tube.
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) — Specialized care throughout the high-risk pregnancy.
- Pitocin induction — Used to initiate and enhance labor.
- Epidural — It provided pain relief during childbirth.
- Vaginal delivery of triplets — A rare birth was made possible because baby A remained head down, while babies B and C could be delivered breech if necessary.
- NICU care — Dawson required additional respiratory support while all three babies were converted after birth.
Motif Medical
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FAQ
A: Yes, although it is unusual. Ashlie’s maternal-fetal medicine specialist recommended a vaginal delivery because baby A remained head down, making her a great candidate, while the other babies could be delivered safely by breech if needed.
A: A Tri-Tri pregnancy means that each baby has its own placenta and amniotic sac. This is generally considered the lowest-risk type of triplet pregnancy because the babies do not share a placenta.
A: Yes. After Ashlie underwent surgery to remove her blocked right fallopian tube, she conceived naturally several months later, despite initially being told that pregnancy would be very difficult.
A: Ashlie carried her spontaneous triplet pregnancy to 35 weeks before undergoing a scheduled induction. Reaching 35 weeks with a singleton triplet pregnancy is an incredible milestone that allowed her babies to arrive healthy with only a short stay in the NICU for extra support.
Instagram: @ashlieholladay_
TikTok: @happy_holladay_triplets
The Birth Hour is a birth story podcast hosted by Bryn Huntpalmer. With over 1,000 episodes and 27 million downloads, it’s one of the longest-running pregnancy and birth podcasts in the world. New episodes are posted every week — no medication, epidural, home birth, hospital birth, c-section, VBAC and everything in between.
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