Triple the twins for Timaru

BY EMMA BAILEY

Double trouble has almost tripled.

The number of twins born at Timaru Hospital has grown from four pairs last year to 11 this year.

Pleasant Point's Jenny Priddle is mother to one set of twins, with her boys Reon and Travis arriving three weeks ago.

She found out when she was eight weeks pregnant that there were two bundles of joy on the way. She had no family history of twins.

"I was quite shocked, I was over the moon but it took a while to sink in. I definitely didn't expect it."

Both boys arrived early, born on May 25 just after 9am, a minute apart at just 38 weeks old.

Travis was born first at 2.72 kilograms and Reon was 2.64kg.

"I was in hospital for a week to get my head around it and grow an extra set of hands.

"None of my friends have twins but I have joined the multiple birth society."

The non-identical twins are distinctly different to look at and very early the boys' different personalities began to shine through.

"Definitely two different little people. Travis has a shorter wick and Reon is a bit more patient and laid back.

"I couldn't get Travis to sleep on his own for a while. He would have to be in the bassinet with Reon or with me holding him.

"The hospital had a heartbeat machine that he (Travis) got used to and now if we rock him a little bit he will go to sleep on his own.

"But at the start he had to know where his brother was and be close enough to touch him.

"Reon likes music and turns his head towards it whenever there is music playing."

Pregnancy with two babies was a tiring experience.

"I just wanted to go to bed and stay there. Now I have got used to them and having just one baby around seems very easy."

While she has been thrown in at the deep end with two babies, Jenny and husband Ryan would like another. "We would actually really like a girl."

Statistics from Timaru Hospital show that for the year to date, of the 579 babies born, there were 11 sets of twins, with the official end of the count on June 30.

The previous year there were four sets of twins in the 626 babies born at Jean Todd Maternity Ward. In the 2007-2008 year there were 597 babies born, including five sets of twins.

The previous year was another big year for twins with ten sets born out of 620 babies. In 2005 and 2006 there were 542 babies born, including six sets of twins. In 2004 and 2005 only two sets of twins were found among the 571 babies born and in the 2003 and 2004 year, there were sevens sets of twins and one set of triplets in the 557 babies born.

- © Fairfax NZ News