Mali-born singer-songwriter Awa Sangho has been a rising star on the global music scene. But when she and her husband Ernest Moreno found out she was pregnant with triplets, she turned to UC Davis Health. 

UC Davis maternal-fetal medicine physician Véronique Taché saw Awa for weekly checkups during her pregnancy. Taché and Sangho both speak fluent French so Awa’s appointments were conducted in French.

“Carrying multiple babies can increase your risk for a range of conditions including preterm labor,” Taché said. “We wanted to make sure that she and the babies were growing and developing as they should.” 

At 31 weeks, Awa had high blood pressure during a routine appointment. More tests revealed a preeclampsia diagnosis, which can be life-threatening for both babies and mother. The health care team decided to schedule a caesarean section (C-section) the next day.

Awa’s two sons, Ikai and Ubirajara, and one daughter, Korotimi, were born on July 1.

Ikai and Ubijara weighed more than 3 pounds. Korotimi weighed 2 pounds 8 ounces.

“I was so happy. They were so beautiful and healthy,” Sangho said.

The triplets spent about a month in the UC Davis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Sacramento’s only nationally ranked level IV nursery.

The Ronald McDonald House Charities, Northern California became a home away from home for Sangho and Moreno, while the babies were in the NICU.

The triplets learned to eat and grew bigger. Korotimi, Sangho’s daughter, fought an infection, but thanks to the care from her NICU team led by Donald Null, she was discharged on Aug. 5, six days after her brothers left the NICU.

As for Sangho, she also battled an abscess at her C-section site and was hospitalized at UC Davis Medical Center for nearly a week, requiring a drain to remove the infected fluid.

“I’m glad that I’m doing better now. I was in good hands. My babies were in good hands. We are thankful to the whole UC Davis Health team,” Sangho said.