ONE of her dreams was to have children when she became an adult, but she never expected to be a mother of six at the age of 27.

Rebecca Phejane, of Setlopo village in Mahikeng, North West, gave birth to healthy triplets on Wednesday at Mahikeng Provincial Hospital, adding another set of triplets to the ones she already has.

She says she feels blessed to be a mother of six at her age, but wonders if she will cope.

Phejane is unemployed and lives with her unemployed mother.

She will rely on the state child grant and the father of her triplets, who is a contract worker at Impala Platinum Mine, to support her triplets.

Her bundle of joy, Omphile, Olerato and Omolemo - two girls and a boy - were delivered, weighing over two kilograms each. They were pronounced normal and healthy.

Her other four-year-old triplets, Oratile, Onthatile and Letlotlo - also two girls and a boy - did not have complications when they were born.

Phejane said she was expecting one child during her second pregnancy but, to her surprise, her gynaecologist told her she was carrying another set of triplets.

"I did not know how to react. I knew I was struggling to support my first ones and I did not want to go through that pain and suffering again," the mother of six said.

Phejane, who still walks with difficulty, said: "There is no rest. There is no mama. I am feeling sick this time. It's all about the babies."

Her doctor, Dr Mahommad Saeed Mather, said: "Phejane's case was very rare and one in a million."

He said most of the cases of multiple babies were as a result of artificialinsemination.

Mather said to produce three eggs at the same time was amazing, but to produce them again at the second pregnancy was a miracle.

"Naturally conceived triples are rare, but having a second set is extremely rare. Rebecca is blessed to have this ability to produce three eggs during ovulation and also to have delivered three healthy normal babies," Mather said.

He said had it not been for Phejane's early visit to him, the children could have suffered complications.

"Thanks to early ultrasound screening, I was able to detect the triplets and monitor their progress thereafter," the gynaecologist said.

Phejane only studied up to matric and wants to study further. She is looking for any help to raise her children.

"It does not have to be money, I need physical help and if someone has disposable nappies or formula milk or clothes to donate, I would appreciate it," the mother of six appealed.