Two sisters 'couldn't believe it' when they went into labour at the same time and gave birth next door to each other in the hospital just three hours apart. Chantelle Grace had been in labour for 12 hours when her younger sister, Natasha Palmer, was rushed into the hospital maternity room next door, has also gone into labour with her first child.
Miss Palmer gave birth to her daughter Phoebe at 2:15am, just 45 minutes after arriving at the hospital. Mrs Grace then gave birth three hours later, with her son Lennox arriving at 5.20am. Both of the sisters were over a week overdue. Mrs Grace, a 30-year-old travel agent from Newport, Isle of Wight, was due to give birth on July 29. Her younger sister, a 27-year-old nurse from Ryde, on the island, was due a day later on July 30. The odds of two babies being born on the same day are relatively low but for two sisters to give birth on the same day in the same hospital bookmakers put the odds as high as 1 in 125,000. The sisters were both hoping to avoid giving birth on July 30 as it is Mrs Grace's eldest son's birthday.
Mrs Grace was already in labour at St Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight, when she heard her family outside of her hospital room. She said: "I was in the delivery room when I heard a voice outside in the corridor and it was Natasha's partner, Jamie."My husband Matthew went to investigate and came back saying Natasha was next door and about to give birth. I couldn't believe it."I heard my mum call out, then a baby crying, and I was just glad everything was all right."After that, I wasn't thinking about anything else except how much pain I was in. Miss Palmer had hoped to have a water birth but due to Lennox's size, 10lb 4oz, it was considered too risky. She said: "I called Chantelle when the contractions started at around 8.30pm."She was in labour too and she thought I was messing about."It was quite surreal at the hospital but nice in the morning because we were in each other's rooms having a chat."The sisters speak every day and had supported each other during their pregnancies, complaining about the heat and swapping stories about swollen fingers. Miss Palmer added: "I think the children will be close growing up."I think they'll play together all the time. I'm really excited about it."
Miss Palmer gave birth to her daughter Phoebe at 2:15am, just 45 minutes after arriving at the hospital. Mrs Grace then gave birth three hours later, with her son Lennox arriving at 5.20am. Both of the sisters were over a week overdue. Mrs Grace, a 30-year-old travel agent from Newport, Isle of Wight, was due to give birth on July 29. Her younger sister, a 27-year-old nurse from Ryde, on the island, was due a day later on July 30. The odds of two babies being born on the same day are relatively low but for two sisters to give birth on the same day in the same hospital bookmakers put the odds as high as 1 in 125,000. The sisters were both hoping to avoid giving birth on July 30 as it is Mrs Grace's eldest son's birthday.
Mrs Grace was already in labour at St Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight, when she heard her family outside of her hospital room. She said: "I was in the delivery room when I heard a voice outside in the corridor and it was Natasha's partner, Jamie."My husband Matthew went to investigate and came back saying Natasha was next door and about to give birth. I couldn't believe it."I heard my mum call out, then a baby crying, and I was just glad everything was all right."After that, I wasn't thinking about anything else except how much pain I was in. Miss Palmer had hoped to have a water birth but due to Lennox's size, 10lb 4oz, it was considered too risky. She said: "I called Chantelle when the contractions started at around 8.30pm."She was in labour too and she thought I was messing about."It was quite surreal at the hospital but nice in the morning because we were in each other's rooms having a chat."The sisters speak every day and had supported each other during their pregnancies, complaining about the heat and swapping stories about swollen fingers. Miss Palmer added: "I think the children will be close growing up."I think they'll play together all the time. I'm really excited about it."