NATCHEZ — And baby makes … six?

The math works for Noelle and Denny Read because the couple didn’t just welcome one baby on March 29, no, this duo of ministers does things in triplicate.

Happy, healthy triplets — Emily, Daniel and Benjamin — joined the couple and big brother Ethan, but not without countless prayers, a lengthy hospital stay and plenty of tender loving care.

The triplets, who were born nine weeks early, are remarkably healthy and strong, the Reads said.

And thanks to the love and support from First Presbyterian Church — where both Noelle and Denny serve as ministers — the family is entering uncharted territory with strength too.

Of course the couple is simply happy to have everyone home too.

Noelle was put on bed rest in January and admitted to the Women’s Hospital in Baton Rouge in February for seven weeks, waiting for the triplets to arrive.

Noelle, a petite person, said she was huge, and extremely uncomfortable.

“Out in public, I noticed people looking at me,” Noelle said. “It got to a point where I couldn’t walk, and I couldn’t sleep. I even outgrew large-sized scrubs.”

She said in the hospital, days consisted of marathons of the television show NCIS and contractions.

“Care at the women’s hospital was extraordinary,” Noelle said. “I did try to do work from the hospital, but after a while I got so big I couldn’t type on my computer. I was like a whale, and I would flip from side to side.”

While the pregnancy was rough, the road to conception was difficult as well. After years of trying to conceive, and a failed attempt at in vitro fertilization, Noelle said she prayed that her desire to have more children would go away if it was not in God’s plan.

Another attempt at in vitro was successful, but Noelle said her excitement was contained.

“I was a high-risk pregnancy,” Noelle said. “It wasn’t until we were home, I realized I do have all these babies and they aren’t going anywhere, that I felt OK.”

Because Noelle was 40, had experienced a previous miscarriage and developed gestational diabetes while pregnant with Ethan and the triplets, she kept her joy reserved.

“Oh yes, I was scared,” Noelle said. “Really, I didn’t think they would be born. I even told my mom not to shop for the triplets. There was a lot of anxiety and fear.”

Noelle said the experience deepened, renewed and expanded her understanding of God and his peace.

“In the hospital my attitude shifted to living in gratitude,” Noelle said. “I was grateful for the opportunity to carry these babies, I was grateful for my home and grateful for my family.”

The Reads said they learned that ministry is a two-way street when Noelle was pregnant and the triplets were born. With church members bringing meals, watching Ethan, visiting Noelle in the hospital, cleaning their house, baby sitting and helping with feedings, the ministers had to step back and allow the congregation to minister to them.

“Their support was loving, and really overwhelming,” Denny said. “It goes beyond anything we expected. The church really did the preparing for us. They set up a fund to help us with medical expenses and a night nurse.”

Denny said that pastors can suffer from a savior complex, and maybe he had ventured into that mind set before the triplets were conceived.

“Ministers are in the business of helping others,” Read said. “This was our time to be helped.”

Noelle said church members began bringing three meals a day since September. Congregants also painted and decorated the nursery, fenced in the backyard and stripped lead-based paint from the closet.

The Reads said now their greatest challenge is working out the logistics of parenting triplets. In the hospital, the routine for feeding and sleeping worked, and they continued the schedule at home.

“No more lollygagging,” Noelle said. “No room for procrastination.”

Denny said the triplets are fed at the same time each day, because just feeding them when they are hungry would be impossible.

“We do not deviate from the schedule,” Denny said. “We’re like coal — if you put us under enough pressure, we become diamonds.”

Emily is a fraternal sibling to Benjamin and Daniel, who are identical twins.

The Reads originally wanted to name one of the boys Knox, after John Knox, founder of the Presbyterian denomination.

Ethan disagreed.

“We asked Ethan why he didn’t want Knox, and he said, ‘It sounds like you’re punching somebody,’” Denny said.

The Reads said the triplets’ personalities are already emerging.

Benjamin is laid back and easy going.

“He’s already in Key West,” Denny said.

Daniel is aware and interested in what is happening around him.

“He’s more of a busy-body,” Denny said.

And Emily is the diva with a bleating cry and dramatic gestures.

“Emily holds court,” Noelle said.

The Reads said Ethan is turning out to be a fantastic big brother.

“He is really very gentle and very proud,” Noelle said. “He helps bathe them, change their diapers and get them dressed.”

Noelle said while coming back from the hospital, Ethan was teaching them, “This is a tree, this is a shoe…” And at the table, saying, “This is how you eat a Pop-Tart.”

Church member and family friend Linda Bates said she and her husband George were Ethan’s “adopted nana and grandpa” since the Reads’ parents live 10 hours away.

Now that the triplets are home, Bates said it’s triple the blessing.

“This has been an awesome experience,” Bates said. “We prayed for so many months for Noelle and the babies — now they are here, healthy and perfect.”

Bates said she keeps up with the Reads’ routine and serves as a supplement to the night nurse.

“My goal is to make everything as easy for them as I can,” Bates said.

“We are blessed to be a part of their lives, and that is true for the whole congregation.”