Identical twins sisters who say they do everything together have given birth to daughters just days apart.
Hannah Pountain and Lilli Paterson, both 31, were shocked after discovering they had unintentionally got pregnant at the same time.
The pair, who were born 14 minutes apart, said being able to share the experience was ‘very special’, adding that they have a ‘unique twin connection’.
Lilli, a doctor from Northampton, gave birth to eight-month-old Bonnie last December, while Hannah, a fashion merchandiser from Leicester, gave birth to seven-month-old Lexi just three and a half weeks later in January this year.
Hannah Pountain (left with Lexi) and Lilli Paterson (right with Bonnie), both 31, gave birth to baby daughters Lexi and Bonnie just weeks apart
Lilli and Hannah (pictured while pregnant) discovered that they were pregnant within five weeks of each other
The twins explained how they have always been inseparable, going to university together and even taking their driving test on the same day.
Hannah, the younger twin, said: ‘When our families discovered we both pregnant at the same time, they were shocked.
‘We have always been similar, we have the same personality and even the same group of friends, and we both went to university together.
‘So to go through pregnancy and childbirth together was very special, a unique twin connection, and of course it was very beautiful.
The twins explained how they have grown up doing everything together. Pictured are Hannah (left) and Lilli (right) as children
Hannah (left) and Lilli (right, as babies) were born 14 minutes apart and describe how they have a ‘unique connection’
‘Giving birth just three and a half weeks apart is something not many siblings can experience – let alone identical twins. The feeling was completely magical and incredible.’
She added: ‘It didn’t really sink in until after we’d both given birth – having someone so close to be so honest with and go through everything together with was nice. We hope our two girls will be as close as we have our whole lives.’
Lilli and her husband Michael conceived very quickly after they first started trying for a baby in 2017 and were delighted to discover she was pregnant in May last year.
In fact it happened so quickly that they found out the news before she was due to get married in Italy in June 2017 – with her sister the only family member to know the secret.
Hannah (left) and Lilli (right) gave birth to their twin daughters within three and a half weeks of each other
Hannah (left) and Lilli (right) said being able to go through pregnancy and childbirth together was ‘completely magical’
Lilli was gobsmacked when on the day before the wedding in Florence her sister revealed that she and husband Ben had also conceived after a year of trying and she was also pregnant.
Hannah said: ‘When I discovered Lilli was pregnant, I was over the moon. She kept it secret from the rest of the family, and I was the only one who knew about it.
‘So I knew when I told Lilli I was pregnant too, she was going to be ecstatic. I wanted to tell her in the most beautiful way, so I burst into her room with Ben for breakfast the day before Lilli’s wedding and told both Lilli and Michael.’
The twins both decided to keep the news from their families for several weeks before revealing it to them when Lilli was 12 weeks pregnant and her sister Hannah was six weeks along.
Hannah (left) and Lilli (right while pregnant) explained how their families were shocked when they discovered they were both pregnant at the same time
Hannah (left) and Lilli (right) with daughters Lexi and Bonnie said they hope their daughters will be as close as they are
Both Hannah (left) and Lilli (right) only found out they had daughters moments after giving birth, after deciding not to find out the gender while pregnant
Sharing an Instagram account (@thetwinstories), the twins often share cute snaps of one another and their daughters, often in the countryside or on ski holidays.
Incredibly, both sisters found out they were having girls in the moments after birth after they both decided not to find out the gender, based on what their other had done before them.
However, they were not surprised when they both had girls, as the pair come from a family of four sisters and have only one male relative on their mother’s side.
Lilli said: ‘Hannah had to tell our families when I announced my pregnancy.
‘Having a twin connection is the best! Like having a best friend all the time who you can be totally honest with, and they’ll be totally honest with you.
‘And it’s great that we both know we’ll always agree on things – so always someone to back you up.’
The twins (pictured as babies) explained how their mother had also decided to not find out the gender of her babies
Hannah (left) and Lilli (right) said they have ‘always been similar’, describing how they have the same personality
Hannah (left) and Lilli (right, when they were seven) said they both have the same group of friends, and even ended up going to university together