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As triplets, Kirsty, Andy and Gemma Tambling soon got used to attracting more than enough ­attention while they grew up.

Mum Wendy was bursting with pride as she took the newborns home. And she recalls a midwife’s ­quiet words of guidance...

Wendy, 44, said: “She advised me to let them be individuals.”

The advice was ­fitting. Gemma is gay and two years ago Andy came out as transgender .

Gemma and Kirsty’s brother became their sister and has ­started the transition from male to female.

Andy told the Sunday People : “This is the happiest I have been in my life.

“I look back at everything I have been through growing up and I just hope that by being ­myself I can help other people in the same situation.

(Image: Sunday People)

“My sisters have always been supportive of me and I love being a triplet. If we have a problem we stick together. It’s like wearing a comfort blanket. Our bond gets stronger all the time.”

In October 1995 the ­siblings were the first ­triplets born at Liverpool Women’s Hospital .

Read more:Caitlyn Jenner wants her 'spirit' to be free after her transition

Now Kirsty has also had a baby at the hospital and features in first episode of a new series of Channel 4’s One Born Every Minute, which starts on Tuesday.

Wendy had suffered a number of miscarriages and was ­desperately worried when she found out that after IVF she was expecting triplets.

They were born at 30 weeks with Kirsty first born, weighing 2lb 8oz, followed by Andy at 2lb 4oz and 2lb 5oz Gemma.

(Image: Sunday People)

She said: “I was over the moon with my three beautiful babies.

“When their dad, Andy, and I took them out of the house in two prams we could never get from A to B because so many people would fuss over them.”

Read more:Parents threaten to remove children over school 'transgender day'

But little Andy realised from a young age that she was not like other boys. She loved hair, ­make-up and fashion as well as wearing Gemma’s shoes.

She said: “Growing up with two sisters felt natural to me.

“I was about six when I went from a boyish to girlish mindset.

(Image: Sunday People)

“Gemma had these silly little clompy heels and I put them on. I was upstairs alone, walking up and down the landing, trying to practice the Beyoncé hip walk.

“Ever since that day, every morning, I’d go outside in heels while everyone was asleep.

“One day my mum caught me and I said Kirsty had bet me to do it.” Andy’s love of fashion fostered a close bond with sister Gemma, while it was Kirsty who was the tomboy.

Kirsty admitted she often felt the odd one out but now the ­triplets are happy to bond over her new baby.

(Image: Sunday People)

Kirsty said: “I didn’t like heels, I liked wearing my trackie and ­kicking around a football. I was a bit of a loner and I wished there wasn’t so much attention on the three of us.”

Wendy said the home was ­chaotic when the three were growing up.

Read more:Brave 11-year-old boy born a girl tells story

But at primary school the ­siblings could look after each other.

This was a huge support for Andy, who suffered terrible ­bullying from the age of nine.

She said: “A lot of ­people get bullied because they’re ­different. And I was the lowest of the low.

(Image: Sunday People)

“I couldn’t leave a ­classroom to go to the next without being chased, pushed down the stairs or spat at. But it made me the ­person I am today.

“I kept telling myself, you’re worth it. You work hard and in the future it’ll all pay off.”

When Andy was 16 a ­rumour spread through school that she had told a fellow pupil she was gay.

She recalled: “I didn’t know what ­transgender was back then so I thought I must be gay because I find men attractive. I was absolutely livid when the school told my ­parents about it.

“It’s something you need to tell them yourself when you’re ready. I was so uncomfortable. It took me half an hour to tell mum.”

Then, two years ago, when she had just left college, Andy found out about being transgender.

(Image: Channel 4)

She said: “I researched it and thought, ‘I can relate to this.’ It started all connecting in my head and I thought, ‘I’m not gay.’

“I didn’t tell ­anyone at first ­because I needed to be sure. I felt ­embarrassed ­because I had ­already come out as gay.”

Wendy said: “I ­always thought Andy was gay but when he told me he was ­transgender I was shocked.

“I struggled with it because I worried about the life he would have.

“When we go to the shops I’m constantly looking around to see if anyone is looking aggressively towards him.

“I go to call him ‘son’ but I say ‘Andy’ instead.”

Andy now leads his life as a woman. She and Gemma still live at their ­parents’ home in Wallasey, Merseyside.

(Image: Sunday People)

Gemma, who has been with her partner for two years, first chose to come out more than two years ago – to Andy.

And when Andy was ready to talk about being transgender, it was Gemma she confided in.

Gemma said: “We have built up a strong foundation of trust. Andy will come to me and I’ll go to her.

“It was difficult to talk about being gay but Andy made me feel more ­comfortable in myself. She and I were on a night out when I met my girlfriend and it’s going really well.”

Kirsty moved out of the family home when she was 18 to try to be ­independent and, without planning it, became ­pregnant a year later.

Her daughter’s father has never been on the scene but she has been ­supported all the way by her sisters.

(Image: Sunday People)

The girls, aged 20, will be on One Born Every Minute, showing Kirsty’s return to Liverpool Women’s Hospital to give birth to Alecia-Theresa, now five months old.

Kirsty said: “Being a mum is the best thing ever and I’d be lost without Alecia-Theresa.

“I have always been maternal. I’m a proper mum. I love having a cup of tea and watching EastEnders.

“Once Alecia-Theresa is a bit older, I’d love to train to be a midwife.”

Gemma and Andy dote on their tiny niece.

They said she hasn’t made them broody but has ­strengthened their bond with Kirsty. Andy said: “Kirsty has matured so much. And Gemma and I are very proud aunties.

(Image: Channel 4)

“Alecia-Theresa is like an ­extension of us three all in one. She is our little mascot.”

While Gemma, who wants to be an author, is in a committed ­relationship, Kirsty and Andy are happily single.

Andy said: “I’ve tried dating but I get bored really easily.

“I fall in love with the person, not the gender. Maybe one day I’ll settle down. But first I’d like to build up my own make-up brand and business.”

Andy is in the early stages of transitioning.

She said: “What you see is just make-up, a good weave and a good bra.

“I am pursuing surgery but I have to save up. That is something I see in the future.

(Image: Sunday People)

“But for now I am happy with myself and in my own skin.

“I don’t want people to see­ ­transgender as a gimmick.

“It may be popular right now because of the likes of Caitlyn Jenner but we are just like everyone else. I want ­people to just see us as your next-door neighbour, your friend, your brother or your sister.”

Wendy, surname Gooley, also has an older son who was adopted at birth but recently got back in touch. She said she is happy with how her very individual triplets have turned out.

With the midwife’s advice still in her ears, she added: “Kirsty, Andy and Gemma are all unique and I’m just so proud of them all.”