SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Doctors at a Northern California hospital say a couple has given birth to a rare set of naturally conceived identical triplets.


The Sacramento Bee reports (http://bit.ly/1hyPwlB ) Abby, Brin and Laurel Hepner were born Nov. 22 at Sutter Memorial Hospital to Hannah and Tom Hepner, of Quincy.


The triplets were produced when a single, fertilized egg split into three.


Dr. William Gilbert, director of Sutter Women's Services, says the odds of producing identical triplets without fertility drugs range from 1-in-1-million to 1-in-100-million.


He said the rarity makes it difficult to more accurately calculate the frequency of such births.


Abby weighed 3 pounds, 2 ounces; Brin 3 pounds, 11 ounces; and Laurel 4 pounds.


The triplets are still in the hospital until they can maintain body temperature and eat properly.


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Information from: The Sacramento Bee, http://www.sacbee.com



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