Cousins born on the same day a surprise for family

The chances of them arriving in the world on the same day were slim ... but these baby cousins have proven that coincidences do happen.

Ryan Brodribb with Karter Reid, 18-months, Kayla Reid with baby Evie, 9-weeks, Alice Oates with son Brock, 9-weeks, and Josh Oates with Isabella Oates, 3. The babies, Evie and Brock, were born on the same day and their dads are brothers. Picture: PATRICK GEE

THEY are more than just baby cousins – they are a massive coincidence.

As sisters-in-law who were both pregnant at the same time, the entire family liked to joke that Alice Oates and Kayla Reid might give birth on the same day.

But the chances were remote – given their babies were due five weeks apart.

Then an emergency delivery made it a reality and cousins Brock Oates and Evie Brodribb entered the world on the same day, in the same hospital.

The mums said they planned to catch up for mother’s day with the baby cousins.

“It’s great they share a birthday – they’ll grow up really close,” Mrs Oates said.

Her little boy weighed just over 2kg when he was born five weeks premature and spent the first two weeks of life in special care in hospital.

Brock Oates was born five weeks premature and spent the first two weeks of life in special care in hospital. He was born on the same day as his cousin Evie Brodribb. Picture: SUPPLIED

Mrs Oates said she “had an inkling” he might come early because she had pre-eclampsia, characterised by high blood pressure, throughout her pregnancy.

Then her blood pressure rose too high for the baby and he was delivered by caesarean at the Royal Hobart Hospital on March 2.

Despite the rocky start, the little boy is blossoming.

“Everything is now going really well and he is gaining weight,” she said.

The dads, brothers Josh Oates and Ryan Brodribb, said the coincidental birth dates were hard to believe.

“We had laughed and joked about it for months,” Mr Oates said.

He said being at the RHH at the same time was “crazy”.

“We were in rooms next door to each other, it was unreal,” he said.

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Mr Oates said they knew theirs was a higher risk pregnancy so there was a chance they wouldn’t go full term.

His brother, Mr Brodribb, said their proximity at the hospital made it easier when extended family visited.

“They could visit us all at once,” he said.

Ms Reid said baby Evie was a few days early and she had no idea her sister-in-law was in hospital at the same time.

“I didn’t realise they were next door until we had Evie,” she said.

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