Identical triplets born to a Pontypool couple have starred in a free photoshoot by Newport photographer Sandra K?pkowska.

The gorgeous photos, shown here, show the three sisters sleeping peacefully at her studio on Commercial Road.

Ffion, Madison and Paige Gilbert were born two months early by emergency Caesarian section, weighing 3lb 8oz, 3lb 5oz and 3lb 4oz respectively. They were kept in incubators for just over a week and spent another four weeks in Nevill Hall Hospital before coming back home with mum and dad Karen and Ian Gilbert and three-year-old sister Faye.

Natural conception of triplets is incredibly rare. Their consultant told them there were around 150 triplet births in the UK last year, including pregnancy via IVF.

We featured their parents’ triple joy in the Argus last Monday, when Mrs Gilbert said: “It’s wonderful to have the three of them at home doing well.”

Along with husband Ian, she has had to develop a strategy to get everything done: “They are fed every four hours with Paige being fed and changed first, then Madison and then Ffion. It’s the only way we can manage as you only have one pair of hands.

“It’s just about quantity and having to purchase three of everything and doing a task three times but we love having them in our lives.”

The triplets wear name bracelets and always sit them in the same order, as their parents learn to tell them apart.

Sanda K?pkowska, who specialises in photographing newborns, said Mr and Mrs Gilbert helped with choosing poses and keeping the infants smiling.

She added: “They enjoyed having their photos taken and were very happy. They were sleepy, so it was okay. It would be nice to see them again.”

The parents got in touch after Mrs K?pkowska told the Argus: “If anyone knows a family with newborn triplets up to four weeks, I can do a session for free. This would be an honour for me to know the triplets and to do the session.”

Parents of newborn triplets can still take advantage of this offer.

To get in touch, phone 07801 914927 or visit the website www.fotosandra.co.uk.