A Brazilian mum has stunned doctors when she went into labour with twins and triplets popped out – just over a year after her first baby suffered a cot death.

The 27-year-old woman arrived at the Hospital Raimunda Francisca Dinelli da Silva in the municipality of Maues in the Brazilian state of Amazonas in premature labour.

According to the news site G1, the woman believed she was pregnant with twins, however, doctors were stunned when a third baby, that had not been picked up in previous examinations, came out in the delivery room.

Doctor Alexandre Ribeiro, who posted images of the triplets on social media, said: “The patient arrived in preterm labour. She was in her eighth month of pregnancy. Everyone expected it to be a twin pregnancy. There was an ultrasound that a colleague did indicating there were only two children. To the surprise of the entire team and even the mother, it actually wasn’t two. It was three!”

Despite the surprise, Doctor Ribeiro said the caesarean operation took place without complication, and the mother and three babies are doing well.

The delivery was the first birth of triplets at the hospital since it opened 11 years ago.

Doctor Ribeiro added: “We found out that there was a birth of triplets here in the city about 35 years ago, but the delivery took place at home.”

Meanwhile, the doctor said that the young mum told the medical team a story that moved everyone.

Last year, she gave birth to her first child, but it died of complications shortly after birth.

Doctor Ribeiro said: “Her baby died, unfortunately. There was a complication. The baby was born, but sadly did not survive. To her surprise though, God has now graced her with three.”