Double baby joy for family

Philip Smith and his partner Rachel Andrew now have a bouncing baby boy, called Henry Eric and Matthew Smith and his partner Emily Jane Carr have a daughter, Millie Jayne.

Henry was born at 8.14pm, on February 20 and Millie was born at 8.15pm, on February 24. Their due dates had both been March 4, which is also Matthew’s birthday – but they arrived early and both were born in the same room at the delivery suite at The Vic.

Henry weighed 6lbs and 10.5oz and Millie weighed 7lb and 3oz.

By another coincidence, both mums found out they were pregnant on the same day and were in labour for the same amount of time.

Philip, 30, who has worked as a porter at The Vic for 10 years, said: “We’ve hit the jackpot. There’s just four days and one minute between Henry and Millie.

“Henry is our first – we’d been trying for three years. It’s amazing. He’s a good little boy, very contented. The staff in the hospital have been really good. They were all very kind.”

Matthew, 27, who has worked as a kitchen porter in the hospital restaurant for seven years, said: “We didn’t plan to have children at the same time – it just happened.”

Their mum, Debbie Brearton, the hospital’s bereavement office manager, said: “Henry and Millie are just adorable. I’ve been saying I would love a grandchild for years, but didn’t expect two at once.

“I’m delighted they have arrived together. A boy and a girl – it’s the cherry on the cake!”

Rachel, who works as a radiographer at the hospital, added: “We’ll all be spending a lot of time together.”