Identical twin sisters give birth to ‘miracle’ girls just hours apart after near-identical pregnancies

Twin Adelaide sisters who gave birth to two girls just hours apart say they got to share one of the greatest moments of their lives together.

Marie Leicester and Katelyn Gil gave birth to Ariella and Elliana just a day apart at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

“It was amazing, it was very surreal and such an exciting and beautiful experience,” Katelyn said.

Both babies weighed the same and measured the same height.

Marie’s partner Hardy Leicester and Katelyn’s partner Luke Gil were elated, and couldn’t wait to welcome the special additions to their families.

The mothers said they didn’t think it would be possible to have children because they both have a medical condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome.

“It was not something that you could ever plan. This was just a miracle I’d say and it’s such a beautiful experience to do it with your sister,” Marie said.

“I’m just in shock still I guess,” she said.

“I’m still trying to believe it that it has actually happened and that she’s here in our arms and that special moment of being a mother and an aunty at the same time.”

Marie and Katelyn said their families first thought it was a joke when they revealed they were both pregnant at the same time. 

“It was amazing, it was so fun … everyone was in shock and thought it was a prank and didn’t believe us,” Katelyn said.

Both mothers said they experienced similar pregnancies and suffered from heartburn, feet itchiness and swelling of the hands and feet at similar times.

Having children together like ‘living a dream’

Katelyn said she was able to warn Marie about many of the pregnancy symptoms before her sister experienced them.

“It was good in that way that I could almost just prepare her, ‘Expect this, if this happens don’t be stressed, don’t be scared because it’s part of pregnancy’,” Katelyn said.

“It was really handy to have someone to lean back on and get advice from,” Marie said.

The babies’ birthdays came close to aligning as well.

“The day that Marie ended up getting induced and having the baby, that was the day I was booked in so they could have been born on the same day, but that didn’t end up happening,” Katelyn said. 

After giving birth, Marie said she shared some important advice with Katelyn, who was just hours from labour.

“‘You have to listen to me,’ I said, ‘You want the epidural, when you go in there, that’s the first thing you’re asking for’,” Marie said. 

“I said ‘Yes, it’s your birth, you can have whatever you like, but please take my advice’.”

If it couldn’t get any more similar, both mothers had the same midwife and nurse who delivered the babies and shared the same hospital room.

“To be able to go into the room and be there with my sister — because dad was with the baby — it was really emotional and it really calmed my nerves,” Katelyn said.

Marie and Katelyn said they support each other and share their special moments, even when being a new mum gets difficult. 

“It feels like I’m living a dream, I just can’t believe it, I’m still trying to take it all in I guess you could say. It’s so fun I feel like I’ve had twins, pretty much,” Marie said.