A pair of inseparable pals were stunned after tandem pregnancies had them discovering they were expecting on the same day – then giving birth four weeks early, just an hour apart.
Gloucester buddies Bev Rimes and Hayley Russell, both 34, were astonished to find themselves in neighbouring hospital cubicles after their waters broke unexpectedly in the middle of the night and were delighted knowing their kids were on course to celebrate joint birthdays.
Mum-of-three Bev was beaming when Lilly was born on January 16, 2018, at the Royal Gloucester Hospital and cried with joy for Hayley after seeing Henry, a rainbow baby, had been delivered fit and healthy by the same doctor an hour later.
Bev, who also has two sons, Alfie, 11, and Archie, eight, with her husband, Tim Rimes, says: ‘When I saw Hayley with this healthy baby, I was so grateful to have my baby, but to see her was just incredible.
‘It was one of the best moments in my life. It was a once in a million moment. You can never imagine anything like that happening.’
Both women had caesarean births on January 16, 2018, with Lilly being delivered at 9.40am weighing 5lb 15oz and Henry being born an hour later weighing 4lb 13oz.
Recalling their simultaneous deliveries, Bev says: ‘I remember hearing Hayley’s voice in the next cubicle at the hospital and I just couldn’t believe it.
‘We had the same due date, then our waters broke four weeks early at the same time.
‘There was also a hairy moment, when I could hear Hayley’s baby’s heartbeat dropping and I remember getting so worked up and worried.
‘My best friend was next to me, I could hear the heartbeat and I couldn’t do anything to help her – it was horrific.
“‘But everything was OK and soon, I was in one area of recovery looking at Hayley, who had just had her baby, too – it was just crazy.’
Bev met Hayley in 2014 after taking a job at a nursery in Gloucester, where her soon to be best friend was a senior practitioner.
The pair clicked immediately and soon they were meeting weekly for afternoon tea – a routine they cherished.
‘I only went to work in the nursery because I wanted a change after being at the same place for over a decade,’ says Bev.
‘Hayley seemed quite quiet and I’m quite loud. But I’m so grateful to have met her, as it’s hard to find friends you trust completely.
‘In my whole life, I’ve never met anyone like Hayley and I feel extremely grateful to have gone through my pregnancy and childbirth with her.’
As their friendship deepened, Bev said Hayley opened up about her struggle to have a baby over the years, which had seen her lose two pregnancies.
Hayley and her husband Jason Russell, 38, had tried for a baby in 2015 but miscarried at four weeks, only to be dealt a further blow the following year when they lost another baby just days before their 12-week scan.
‘We spoke about Hayley’s losses a lot and I remember telling her she would have a baby one day,’ says Bev.
‘It made us a lot closer and I wanted to support her as much as I could.’
Then, after celebrating their 30th birthdays a few weeks apart in June 2017, during one of their regular afternoon teas at the Hatton Court Hotel in Gloucester, Hayley said she felt too ill to enjoy a glass of Champagne.
Bev recalled joking that she could be pregnant and, as fate would have it, she fell ill herself and asked her husband Tim to get her a pregnancy test, even though they were not trying for a baby.
It was positive and at the same time a few miles away, Hayley had the same news – announcing she was pregnant in a Facebook messenger group she was in with girlfriends including Bev.
‘When Hayley first sent the message, because of her history of trying, I was a bit nervous as I have two children and I didn’t want to rain on her bonfire,’ she says.
‘But I thought, “we love each other and we’re all so close.” I knew she’d be so happy and it’s something we could share together.
‘When I saw her announcement, I was over the moon. I cried more seeing her pregnancy test than I did seeing my own. I was just amazed for her.’
But their parallel journeys through pregnancy stepped up a gear when their waters broke on the same night – four weeks before their joint February 10 due date – and at 5am on January 16 they found themselves in adjoining hospital cubicles.
Turning four on Sunday 16 January, the mums say Lilly and Henry are ‘like twins’.
Bev says: ‘Lilly is very bossy and Henry is quiet. I think Lilly will be sticking up for Henry as they get older.’
Until now, their plans to have joint birthday parties have not always been possible, because of the pandemic. But this year they celebrated with 30 friends and their children at the nearby soft play centre.
They even shared cake, with one half being decorated in a pink Barbie theme for Lilly and the other half featuring Paw Patrol, Henry’s favourite cartoon.
‘It was wonderful and we’ll be looking forward to the date each year for many years,’ says Bev. ‘We’ll still be telling this story on their wedding days.’
Being pregnant simultaneously was a great support for Hayley, who says Bev calmed her fears when she experienced crippling anxiety in case she lost another baby.
‘Henry and Lilly’s births will be something we will talk about for years.
‘The kids will have their own personalities, but they look set to be as close as their mums and they will always share the same birth story, as well as the same birthday.’
Source: metro
