It was the third that really had her flummoxed.

‘‘I could not speak; it wasn’t what I was expecting,’’ she said.

Adopting the approach that if you expect the absolute worst, whatever happens can not be so bad, she was well prepared for the mayhem that ensued. ‘

‘I built it up to be worse in my mind when I was pregnant, so that when I had the babies it wasn’t as bad as I expected,’’ she said.

It was worrying for a while, when the babies decided to be born very early.

A teacher at Tyabb Primary School, Ms Dummett saw out the school year with her grade 4 class and was 27 weeks into the pregnancy (40 weeks is full term) before beginning what she hoped would be a relaxing countdown to the birth.

Three weeks later she felt something was ‘‘not right’’ and the triplets were born later that day in early January.

‘‘I think it was just a case of them not having enough room,’’ she said.

‘‘They were growing so well and I was healthier and felt better than I ever have.’’

There were three weeks at Monash Medical Centre followed by four at Frankston Hospital before Ruby Jasmine, Milla Rose and Ava Violet were sufficiently advanced to come home.

Now seven months old, the tiny non-identical trio is doing well and, thanks to the help of their family, Ms Dummett and her husband Toby are still sane and enjoying parenthood.

‘‘They are actually pretty easy babies,’’ said Ms Dummett.

‘‘Because of the number of people we have around to help us, we can enjoy the experience; it’s a precious time and I know it doesn’t last long.’’

The couple is staying with Ms Dummett’s parents Brian and Sandra

Brookes in Frankston and Mr Dummett’s parents, Dianne and Ross, are frequent visitors.

Ms Dummett even has time to miss her pupils at Tyabb Primary School and is planning another visit there soon.

‘‘They were a huge part of my pregnancy and were so excited and helpful, doing things for me and carrying my things to the car.’’