Melbourne identical twin sisters give birth on same day

Melbourne twin sisters have each welcomed a newborn on the same day with the boys’ genetics more resembling half brothers than cousins.

Identical twin sisters Gillianne Gogas and Nicole Patrikakos have each welcomed a newborn on the same day at Epworth Freemasons in East Melbourne. Picture: Mark Stewart

Identical twin sisters Nicole Patrikakos and Gillianne Gogas have shared a birthday for the past 36 years and now their sons will too.

The tight-knit sisters both gave birth to baby boys within hours of each other at Epworth Freemasons on August 22.

Ms Gogas’ son, Alexander, was born at 1.20pm while Ms Patrikakos’ son, William, was born five hours later at 6.13pm, both weighing a healthy 3.4kg.

Ms Patrikakos said it was a complete surprise to find out her sister had the same due date.

“The first thing people ask is ‘was it planned?” she said.

“It was certainly planned individually with our partners, but not together. You can’t time something like that.”

The sisters plan to raise the boys like twins. Picture: Mark Stewart

The pair said the boys will be raised like twins, even though they are cousins.

They plan to dress them the same and send them to the same school.

“We plan to raise them as twins as much as possible,” Ms Patrikakos said.

“They are already doing the twin thing, eating and sleeping in sync.

“I expect they will be together all the time.”

Ms Patrikakos said the bond with her sister grew stronger throughout their pregnancies.

“I’m really happy that we have been able to share the journey together,” she said.

“We’ve always been close but we are even closer now if that’s possible.

“We have mostly done everything in sync with one another like getting engaged and married … and now this!”

The sisters’ obstetrician Dr Joseph Sgroi said the births were a ‘rare occurrence’. Picture: Mark Stewart

Ms Gogas, now a mum of three, said she was grateful to be an aunt to her sister’s first child.

“To be an aunt to my twin sister’s baby for the first time is a new experience for me,” she said.

“That’s quite emotional, I can’t wait to look after him.”

The sisters’ obstetrician Dr Joseph Sgroi said the births were a rare occurrence.

“To have identical twins give birth on exactly the same day is exceptionally rare,” he said.

“I think one of the crazy things is they share 25 per cent of their genetic material … so even though they are cousins, their genes are more resembling half brothers.”

Ms Gogas said both pregnancies were mostly straight forward.

“Every pregnancy and birth is a miracle but to share the journey with your twin is amazing,” she said.

“We are so grateful to Dr Sgroi and the team at the Epworth.

“You couldn’t ask for things to go better.”

Originally published as Melbourne identical twin sisters give birth on same day