Delighted Wolverhampton sisters have babies hours apart

Sisters Hayley Griffin and Emily Shone have given their family plenty to celebrate after both gave birth within 15 hours of each other.

The new arrivals had been expected to bounce into the world weeks apart but delivered a photo finish at the maternity unit of New Cross Hospital.

Mum Lisa Shone said at the family home in Beech Road, Oxley, that everyone was in shock that the new arrivals had come so close together.

"The girls have always been close and we joked about them both giving birth at the same time never really expected anything like this," she said. "Emily phoned my husband Brian and I at 1am to say that she was being taken into hospital and three hours later Hayley called to say she was having contractions and was going in too.

Sisters Hayley Griffin, left, with daughter Elsie Field, and Emily Shone, right, with her daughter Arabella Montana. With fathers Daryl Field, far left, and Francesco Montana, far right.

"We went to see Emily during visiting hours at 1pm and ended up staying until 12.30am the following morning. We were back at the hospital three and a half hours later and got no sleep for two days.

"It is typical of us. We are family who never do things by half but all the toing and froing was well worth while because we now two wonderful grand daughters. We could not be more pleased."

Emily, aged 20, who lives with partner Frank Montana, 24 in Hordern Grove, Whitmore Reans, and works as a care assistant with her sister, explained: "I found out that I was pregnant three days after her. I was shocked because we were not trying for a baby.

Babies Arabella Montana, left, and Elsie Field, right.

"The coincidence has made Hayley and I even closer than before. We went to aqua natal classes and other baby events together. As I was going into delivery Hayley was being sent into triage to monitor her contractions. She was then sent home and told to come back later which she did so she was giving birth as I was discharged.

"I think it is lovely the way things worked out. Our daughters will be able to do everything together. I hope they grow up to be as close as my sister and I are."

Hayley, 23, from Forge Close, Pendeford who has been with sweetheart Daryl Field, 26, for seven years, added: "It was a really happy coincidence."

Her daughter Elsie weighed in a 8lb 9oz after being born at 2.29pm on Monday September 29 white her sister had produced 5lb 14oz Arabella at 11.10pm the previous night. Unsurprisingly, the sisters are planning a double christening.