Black Couple Delivers Triplet Girls After Getting Pregnant Twice In One Week
Whew, ladies, come get into this story, it is really something to hear! SO. After being told by a doctor that they would be unable to have children, a young Pittsburgh couple just gave birth to triplets in a rare double pregnancy. Antonio Livingston and Dee Michelle announced their pregnancies, and how shocked they were, on Instagram, saying:
"Last year, my doctors told me that I wouldn't be able to have kids and would need surgery. But God said otherwise and gave us three healthy babies along with a completely healthy mother!"
Wait, what?! How did she end up pregnant with three babies, y'all?
Well, the parents-to-be are experiencing superfetation, an occurrence in which a second, new pregnancy takes place during an initial pregnancy, or when ovulation takes place while pregnant. This basically means that, although Dee was pregnant at the time, she was able to conceive again due to ovulation (she has dispelled rumors of a double utereus).
And what's even more interesting, one baby was conceived six days before the others and is fraternal while the younger siblings are identical.
The couple wrote:
"On January 18, Amani, Amber & Dream made their grand entrance into this world! I only see God when I look at my babies. Thank you God!🙏🏽 I birthed 3 perfect babies at 32 weeks, 1 day gestation. I am beyond for a smooth delivery and most importantly, healthy babies. Everything that I went through during my pregnancy was so worth it when I look at my babies! Amani and Amber are identical (even though these pictures don't look like it) and Dream is fraternal."
And although initially premature, the girls have all been reunited together and are now home with mom and dad.
Studies show that one in 250 pregnancies now result in naturally producing twins, and according to the Center for Disease Control, Black people have a slightly higher likelihood of conceiving twins.And although twin pregnancies are on the rise, triplet births are damn near unheard of in the Black community.
And because of its layers, the internet cannot get enough of this story.
Some sent well wishes:
Many heartstrings were pulled:
Some weighed in on their experiences:
Most were obsessed:
The couple answered a few questions:
But mostly, everyone sent love and light to the internet’s newborn, triplet nieces:
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Dee Michelle and Antonio are currently at their very busy home with their beautiful daughters. You can keep up with their amazing story via social media, or their YouTube channel, where they answer all the questions we have.
Congratulations to this beautiful couple!
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Featured image by Shutterstock
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Charmin Michelle is a southern native and creative spirit who works as a content marketer and events manager in Chicago. She enjoys traveling, #SummertimeChi, and the journey of mastering womanhood. Connect with her on Instagram @charminmichelle.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
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Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy