Fionna and Sam Lacchiana with their two sons, Cameron and Mason, and the newest additions Armani and Chanel.
By Callan Date
BERWICK’S baby boom is continuing and it seems there is no end in sight.
And the Lacchiana family is doing their bit to keep the numbers up.
Fionna, with husband Sam, recently gave birth to a set of twin girls, Chanel and Armani, who have increased the family from four to six.
But the girls will not have to turn far for advice in regards to growing up with a twin – they have twin brothers to ask.
Three-year-old Mason and Cameron have started to deal with the ups and downs of twin life and, already, they seem keen to help out their mum and dad.
“They love their sisters. They may be a little bit over-helpful every now and then, but they are great,” Ms Lacchiana said.
Going from no children to four in just over three years had been a challenge, she said, but the couple was not objecting to the new additions.
“We are so blessed to have them that we don’t complain. We are very busy but we are coping well,” she said.
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) was used to help Ms Lacchiana become pregnant after minor health issues made a natural pregnancy difficult.
“IVF doesn’t guarantee you a baby so we are really, really lucky and really grateful,” she said.
Recent statistics have revealed that an average of one in five IVF pregnancies results in a multiple birth.
All four of the Lacchiana children have been conceived from one cycle of IVF treatment, a somewhat rare occurrence, according to Ms Lacchiana.
“We know people that have had six, seven, eight cycles and still had nothing. We were grateful for anything and entered IVF with an open mind,” she said.
Ms Lacchiana said her children, although not identical, had resemblances like most siblings.
The couple is relishing the challenges that come with having four children under the age of four and have not ruled out another trip to their IVF specialists.
“We are not saying no at this stage. We still have three embryos left which could be used,” Ms Lacchiana said.
And with that, Berwick may continue to be the baby capital of Victoria.
