Sunshine Coast cousin twins Elliott Nitschke and Elsie Lalley born

Pregnant sister-in-laws and a whole lot of surprises made for an exciting day for two Sunshine Coast families, after their newborn bubs became the Coast’s own “cousin twins”.

Oh baby: Sunshine Coast's newest "Cousin Twins" Elsie Margaret Lalley and Elliot Luke Nitschke were born hours apart on October 17. Pictured (L-R): Jakob Lalley and Ceri Lewis holding baby Elsie, and Mr Lalley's sister Rebecca Nitschke (second from the right) holding baby Elliott with husband Luke.

Two Sunshine Coast families have been given an extra reason to celebrate the birth of their newest children, after the new cousins were surprisingly born just hours apart at the same hospital.

Nambour couple Jakob Lalley and Ceri Lewis welcomed their third child into the world on Monday, October 17, just hours after Mr Lalley’s sister Rebecca Nitschke welcomed her third child with her husband Luke.

Elliott Luke Nitschke was born about 9am weighing 4.48kg, while his cousin Elsie Margaret Lalley was born at 2.30pm, weighing 3.96kg.

Elsie’s middle name came from Mr Lalley and Mrs Nitschke’s late grandmother.

Mr Lalley dubbed the newborns “cousin twins” in a Facebook post shared on October 18.

Elsie Margaret Lalley (left) and her new cousin Elliott Luke Nitschke were born hours apart at the Sunshine Coast Hospital on October 17. Photo: Facebook

He said their births on the same day was entirely a surprise after Ms Lewis’ induction was pushed back due to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital being unable to fit them in on their original date.

The couple were finally fit in on October 17, which coincidentally was the same day Ms Nitschke was booked to have a caesarean – much to the surprise of Mr Lalley later that afternoon.

“As it started getting closer, we would joke ‘oh it would be funny if they were born on the same day, it would be funny if we were in the ward together’ … but we’re all pretty stoked to be honest,” he said.

“Usually you’re here by yourself and your family can come and visit … I came here this morning and I saw my sister as well as Ceri.

The Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

“People should do it more often,” he joked.

The surprises continued in the delivery room, after baby Elsie had a facial representation – a rare occurrence in 0.1 per cent of births.

“When they come out, they come out face down. But she flipped the other way at the last second and came out face up, so that was pretty special as well,” he said.

The two couples are no strangers to having cousins born close together, after Mr Lalley’s and Ms Lewis’ eldest daughter and Mr and Mrs Nitschke’s only daughter were born about two months apart.

He said the families were looking forward to having shared parties between the cousins in the near future.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast cousin twins Elliott Nitschke and Elsie Lalley born