A Tarneit family is thrilled their two children were born on the same date four years apart.
Parents Gijo and Sheri Jose were surprised when their second child, a daughter named Evania, was born at Werribee Mercy Hospital on July 24 at 5.47pm, 15 days before her due date.
Her older brother, Jonah, was born four years ago to the day on July 24, coming into the world at 5.43pm. Both were natural deliveries.
Mrs Jose said that when she first became pregnant with Evania, she didn’t think there was any chance her two children would share a birthday.
Then, when doctors told her that she was likely to be induced at 38 weeks because she had gestational diabetes, it became a distinct possibility.
“We planned Jonah’s birthday a little bit earlier, because we were not sure [if I would have Evania on that day],” she said.
Ms Jose was induced on July 23, but Evania waited until the following day to make her entrance in the world – a few minutes earlier than her brother had been born four years earlier.
“It’s really lovely for them to share their birthdays,” she said.
Melbourne University mathematician Peter Taylor said there was a one in 365 chance of a child being born on the same date as a sibling.
Professor Taylor said there would be about 6000 families in Australia in which two children share a birthday.
