A mum who struggled to fall pregnant for a decade had TRIPLETS after she conceived one baby through IVF and twins naturally - in the same week.
Beata Bienias, 36, had begun to give up hope of ever becoming a mother due to issues with her health including polycystic ovaries, brought on by weighing over 17 stone.
But she lost weight and the new mum got more than she ever dreamed of when she finally fell pregnant with one baby through IVF.
But miraculously she had also conceived twins just days before her embryo transfer.
The pregnancy has been described by one fertility expert as "almost impossible",
It means Beata and her husband Pawel, 40, are now parents to four-week-old Amelia and twins Matylda and Borys.
The besotted mum was told by stunned doctors her non-identical twins were conceived naturally just a few days before her IVF embryo transfer on May 2 last year.
And the stunned parents were still unaware that Beata was already pregnant at the time she discovered her IVF treatment had been successful.
Factory worker Beata, from Corsham, Wiltshire, said: "It was the biggest miracle. I never thought something this incredible could happen to me.
"I spent many days thinking that maybe I was the person who would never have a baby.
"I never, ever thought there would be three in there.
"I still can't quite believe it when I look at the three of them. I'm so happy," she added.
Fertility expert Emma Cannon, who has worked in the field for 25 years and founded the Emma Cannon Clinic in Chelsea, London, was stunned to hear of Beata's triplets.
She said: "In my 25 years as a fertility specialist, I have only come across one or two scenarios in which women have fallen pregnant whilst undergoing IVF treatment.
"But this has happened before the embryo transfer takes place - and they then choose to proceed with the natural pregnancy, and do not proceed with the IVF cycle.
"I have never encountered anyone who has conceived naturally before, or around the time of, embryo transfer, and then gone on to become pregnant via the IVF cycle as well.
"But I also know that there is much we do not understand and miracles do happen. I wish Beata all the very best with her three little miracles," Emma added.
Beata, who began trying for a baby with husband Pawel almost immediately after they got married eight years ago, explained how her miracle "triplets" came about.
She said: "It was all very confusing, but my first scan showed that the twins were conceived just a few days before Amelia.
"They tell you at the fertility clinic that you can't have sex for the four days before your egg collection, because the hormones mean more eggs are fertilised than normal.
"But I think we must have done - because on the scan you can see that the twins were conceived some time in the week before the embryo transfer."
And, recalling the moment she found out she was having three babies, Beata added: "The sonographer turned to my husband and asked if he wanted to sit down.
"Then she us there were three babies in there."
For almost four years prior to falling pregnant, Beata had visited a fertility clinic in Bath, where she was advised to lose weight to increase her chances of getting pregnant.
In the summer of 2017, she signed up for the Cambridge Weight Plan, and shed an impressive five stone in just six months.
Beata said: "My motivation was really high. I wanted to be pregnant.
"Losing the weight made me really happy. I was really proud of my weight going down and down each week. It was brilliant."
By February 2018, Beata was given the thumbs-up by her GP and weight loss consultant to begin having blood tests for IVF.
She began having the injections in April, and the embryo transfer took place on May 2.
She said: "It was amazing. It was a really emotional time. I couldn't wait for the moment to collect my eggs. I cried when I had the embryo put inside me."
But the rules around what Beata could and could not do during this time were tight - including not having sex for the four days leading up to her embryo transfer.
She continued: "They tell you to wait for 14 days before taking a pregnancy test, but I couldn't wait, and I did one after nine days.
"When I saw those two lines, I went out and did about five or six more tests, just to make sure. It was just amazing."
With what she thought was just one baby growing in her womb, Beata and Pawel then went on holiday for two weeks to celebrate.
And when they returned, the couple went for their first scan at the fertility clinic in Bath.
Beata recalls: "When I sat down the sonographer told me not to be nervous if they couldn't see anything the first time.
"But then she turned to my husband and asked if he wanted to sit down. He said he would stay standing - and then she told us there were three babies on the scan."
Beata continued: "It was the biggest miracle. I never, ever thought there would be three in there.
"We were told the two twins were conceived naturally. I couldn't believe it - after so many years of trying and getting nothing, and then having IVF and conceiving naturally."
The thrilled mum added: "The pregnancy was brilliant, it was really smooth.
"I was really worried in the beginning, when I heard I was having triplets. But nothing was an issue. I really enjoyed it.
"Everyone who looked after me was amazing - I had great care from staff at Royal United Hospital in Bath."
Amelia, Matylda and Borys were born by Caesarian section at the Royal United Hospital on December 13, when the pregnancy had reached 34 weeks.
Amelia was born weighing 5lbs 2oz, Matylda weighed 4lb 5oz, and little Borys weighed just 4lbs.
But Beata said all three babies are doing well and are "growing too fast".
Besotted Beata said: "I am enjoying everything - even when they wee in bed and I have to clean it up.
"I feed them nearly every three hours, and I go for walks with them every day.
"My husband is absolutely proud of his three babies, and cuddles them every day when he gets home from work.
"I had no idea what to expect from being a mum-of-three all of a sudden. But I'm so happy," she added
