It’s a twin thing
Rachael Mcgeoch, 34, from Massachusetts, gave birth with her twin sister!
When my sister, Becky, 34, called to tell me she was trying for a baby with her husband Todd, 42, I was thrilled for her.
Growing up as twins, we’d always joked about having kids at the same time, but I was planning my wedding to fiancé Bill, 38, so was a way off yet.
After months of trying, Becky wasn’t pregnant.
‘These things take time,’ I reassured her, but she was sure something was wrong.
‘You and Bill should start trying now,’ she warned me. ‘We’re identical twins, so it’s going to take you at least a year – just like me.’ She planted a seed. What if I struggled like Becky? Chatting it over with Bill, we decided to start trying for a baby earlier than planned.
Just three weeks later, my period was late… Surely not? I thought to myself. I did a pregnancy test, and went about my daily chores.
Then I came back to the shock of my life… The test was positive! I called Becky. ‘I’m pregnant!’ I blurted out. ‘This is your fault, you said it would take months.’
‘You can’t be? I’m the one that should be pregnant!’ she said, clearly upset. Suddenly, I had a thought. ‘Grab a test. I can’t do this alone… You have to be pregnant, too,’ I told her. I waited anxiously, then she called back. ‘I can’t believe it!’ she cried. ‘It’s positive. We’re both having babies at the same time!’
It was earlier than planned, but I was thrilled to share it with my sister. Bill and Todd were over the moon and the next eight months flew by.
Ideally we would have loved to give birth in the same hospitals – our due dates were just 13 days apart – but reality struck and the hour and a half journey between us just wasn’t feasible.
Soon my due date came and went. I was checking into Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to be induced.
But even then, two more days passed by.
‘I need my sister with me,’ I told the doctor.
After a long chat with the
hospital, they agreed that Becky could be admitted to my ward, too.
After an hour and a half drive, Becky was by my side and the twin magic kicked in.
‘You’re fully dilated!’ the midwife called in relief.
As the contractions grew stronger, Becky went into labour, too!
When I started to push, Becky was taken to the room next door.
‘You can do it!’ she called, being wheeled out of the room.
As I made the final push, the room filled with Billy Junior’s cries and I heard a bang on the wall. ‘Well done sis,’ Becky squealed. Cuddling my beautiful boy, Bill told me that Becky might need a C-section. My heart broke for her. Like me, she had wanted to have a natural birth.
So I took Billy out of his cot and snuck him over for Becky to see.
‘Look, this is what you’re about to have. Your very own one of these!’ I said, gently placing Billy in her arms.
Just 24 minutes later, she was welcoming her daughter, little Andi, into the world.
They may not be identical like us, but they both helped each other come into the world, and I know
they’ll help each other through life, too.
I knew I needed some magic