Two sisters delivered their babies within just minutes of each other in the same hospital.
Kelly Pemberton, 34, and Tanya Beattie, 36, went into labour at the same time just three rooms away from each other at Sunderland Royal Hospital.
Kelly and husband Paul, 40, from Southwick, Sunderland, were over the moon to welcome their third child Anais Pemberton, weighing 5lb 2oz into the family on Thursday last week, at 3.30pm.
Just 20 minutes later, at 3.50pm, Kelly’s sister Tanya welcomed her eighth child into the world, son Buddy Beattie, weighing 5lb 150oz.
Kelly Pemberton, 34, and Tanya Beattie, 36, went into labour at the same time just three rooms away from each other at Sunderland Royal Hospital
Paul and Kelly, who are also parents to Noel, 15, and Conrad, 11, said it had been an unreal experience.
Kelly said: ‘It was a case of the midwives trying to guess which one of us was going to have it first! And my mum, Sharon Beattie, kept phoning to see if Tanya had had her baby.
‘They couldn’t believe it at the hospital as it is so rare. A midwife who had been there for over 10 years said she had never known it happen.
‘I still can’t believe they were born on the same day – it is unbelievable. It’s something to tell them when they’ve grown up!’
Tanya, who had her child with partner Paul Balmer, 35, also from Southwick, Sunderland, said: ‘The two of us were just in shock.
‘It is so rare. I asked the doctor during my labour if they could tell me whether my sister had had her baby and she said yes she had and that is when she delivered mine, 20 minutes later.
Kelly (left) and husband Paul, 40, from Southwick, Sunderland, were over the moon to welcome their third child Anais Pemberton last week
Just 20 minutes later, at 3.50pm, Kelly’s sister Tanya (right) welcomed her eighth child into the world, son Buddy Beattie
‘It is just unreal and we are just over the moon. All the kids love them both to bits.’
Paul, who works for Sunderland City Council, said Kelly was meant to be due on May 5, but she started to go into labour at 30 weeks pregnant.
He said: ‘She was taken to the University Hospital of North Tees as there were no incubators available in Sunderland, but they managed to stop the labour with medication and she managed to hang on for another five weeks.
‘Meanwhile Kelly’s sister Tanya was due her baby at the end of April and both of them went into hospital at Sunderland Royal and the babies were born on the same day.
‘They were just 20 minutes apart. Staff at the hospital said it had been a long time since anything like that had happened!
‘We are all over the moon and the boys are chuffed to have a little sister.’
Following her birth, Kelly spent a few days in hospital as Anais had developed a slight infection. She has since recovered and is doing well.
Kelly holds Anais Pemberton (left) while her sister Tanya holds baby Buddy Beattie (right)
The two babies were delivered within minutes of each other at Sunderland Royal Hospital