Match of the Day pundit's 'mind-blowing' triplets

A couple has described the "mind-blowing" moment they discovered they were expecting triplets.

BBC Premier League commentator Chris Wise, 39, and his partner Hannah Gurney, 36, were given the news by a sonographer at a routine scan.

Triplets are rare, with an estimated 100 sets a year born in the UK - just 25 of those are conceived naturally, according to the charity Twins Trust.

"It was such a hard thing to process," said Mr Wise.

Ms Gurney told the BBC that during the ultrasound scan, the sonographer "looked visibly nervous" and the couple feared "something was really wrong".

"But she said I can see a heartbeat - I can actually see three," she said.

The couple were shocked to discover during a scan they were expecting triplets

Having triplets is higher risk, regular hospital scans are needed and the babies are typically born earlier than full term.

Naturally conceived triplets, like the couple's, make up "well under 1%" of all sets born in the UK, according to Shauna Leven, Twins Trust CEO.

She said while fraternal twins run in families "but not for everyone", when it comes to triplets "anyone" can have them, "you can get really, really lucky".

"You kind of think when you get pregnant that it's going to be really exciting and you have all this to look forward to and I felt like I was really anxious and worried for quite a lot of it," she said.

But Mr Wise added that he was "so proud" of his partner and "the way she handled everything that happened and the way she has adapted being a mum".

The couple, from Portsmouth, Hampshire, had been given a due date of Christmas Day, but Emil, Alba and Ava arrived early on 1 November at 32 weeks via emergency C-Section.

The babies spent their first five weeks in hospital - but were home in time for Christmas.

After five weeks in hospital, the triplets were home for Christmas

Match of the Day pundit Mr Wise is self-employed and said he had to get back to work pretty quickly.

He said: "I had a tiny bit of time off when they were in hospital but when they came home, because it has been tied in around Christmas - that is a pretty busy period in the footballing calendar.

"I have been here there and everywhere doing games but promising Hannah that, when we get into January, I'll be around a little bit more."

The couple said they have a good support network, including Mr Wise's mother Mary.

The couple say they have a great support network, including Mr Wise's mother Mary

"Without her being around and doing all the bits that we have needed her to do, I think we would be drowning to be honest," he said, adding: "And we are swimming, purely because of her.

"But you don't want to see the legs under the water because they are going a little crazy - but it looks relatively calm up top."

Of the three babies, the girls Ava and Alba are identical.

But Mr Wise said: "Sometimes, at 04:00, when it's slightly dark and you're slightly blurry eyed because you are so tired, it's tricky to tell [the trio apart] so we have had to paint one of their nails and then we can never get confused."

Ms Gurney added: "It's obviously super full on but I love it, I love being busy, I am quite organised. It's about prioritisation - we have a big whiteboard."