Stay-at-home mum Jo Hayhoe has given birth to twins who were born on different days.
Jo Hayhoe, 38, who lives in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, was induced at 37 weeks with fraternal twins Bobby and Blake.
With seven kids waiting at home to meet their new siblings, Blake and Bobby, medics were confident the birth would go smoothly.
Jo, 38, ended up having the twins around half an hour apart, which means they have different birthdays.
She gave birth to Blake at 11.57pm on December 7 and shortly after Bobby arrived at 12.26am, meaning the twins while have different birthday days.
But the family are not yet opting for double festivities, with Jo deciding to alternate the day that they celebrate each year until the twins are old enough to decide what they want.
The twins, who arrived promptly but had a difficult time, were immediately transported to the newborn intensive care unit (NICU).
Prior to being allowed to return home and meet their siblings, Dan, 20, Riley, 17, Emily, 15, Sophie, 14, Jack, 11, Finley, 6, and Teddy, 4, the brothers had to stay in the hospital for two weeks.
All of the siblings thought it was ‘cool’ that the twins have their own birthdays.
Jo said: ‘I have heard of twins arriving on different days before but didn’t think it would happen to me.
‘I have basically been pregnant for a decade, and it’s always plain sailing.
‘The labour was fast and went smoothly but after was hard to deal with.
‘I had all of my kids at home and newest babies in the hospital – it was a tough time.
‘But it made their return home even more special.
‘Everyone was ecstatic to meet them.’
She says the family home is ‘manic but full of love’, adding: ‘My house can be crazy and loud at times but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
‘I am always washing, folding, and putting away clothes, but I am used to it now. When he’s not at work, my 37-year-old husband Richard, a landscaper, also lends a hand. I enjoy being the mother of a big family because it is all I have ever known.
‘It was wonderful to hear Dan say to me once that it’s terrific because they won’t ever feel lonely.
‘Even though it can be chaotic at times and I occasionally just want to sit down, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
‘They give me a reason, I don’t know what I’d do without them.
‘I also enjoy being pregnant, but the twins’ large size—Bobby weighed 7 lbs. 2 ounces and Blake was 7 lbs. 12 ounces—took a toll on my body. But nothing compares to the incredible feeling of having babies inside you.’
