Twin twins a Horsham ‘first’

While Queensland gained world attention this week with the birth of identical quads, Grampians Health’s Horsham campus has experienced its own unique ‘quad’ moment, with two sets of twins arriving within days of each other.

Horsham first-time parents Lauren and Ben Taggart welcomed their baby girls into the world on July 10. Emily was born first at 10.27am, followed by Mia two minutes later.

Eight days later, while the Taggart twins were still in the care of the Yandilla team, Grampians Health colleagues Sonam and Abhi Dabra were blessed with their second son Shivansh and two minutes later, daughter Samaira.

Maternity Services Manager Jane Rentsch said she had no recollection of two sets of twins occupying cribs at the hospital before.

“I’ve been a midwife in Horsham for 15 years and it has certainly never happened in my time,” Ms Rentsch said.

“We actually had another set of twins born here only a month or so back so considering how rare it is, this is a very unique moment and the whole hospital is buzzing with excitement.”

Ben said he and Lauren were so happy the births were able to happen in Horsham.

“We are very happy with the team at Horsham,” Ben said. “Everyone has been great and we are really happy that we didn’t have to travel for the births.

“We have been living and working in Horsham a few years now and we really like it so we wanted our children to be born here.”

For the Dabra family, there was a little more excitement to their birthing event. Abhi said they were booked into Yandilla after reassurance from Grampians Health obstetrician Dr Yakep Angue and his team.

“Due to the position of the twins, Dr Yakep said we needed a C-section birth and assured us we were in safe hands,” Abhi said.

“We were booked in on July 25 but on Saturday afternoon I finished my shift and arrived at our Dimboola home. Sonam said she was feeling uncomfortable, so we headed straight for Horsham hospital.

“The midwife greeted us when we arrived and she said don’t worry, I’ll call a team in. Within 40 minutes everyone was here and ready to go.

“We got here around 4.30pm and we had the babies two hours later and two minutes apart. Now our son Shorya has a little sister and a little brother.”

Abhi said the Yandilla team had been amazing.

“They are a pretty good team. They come along and feed the babies and change nappies and they teach me to change nappies.”

Grampians Health introduced a new maternity program last year that ensured each mother was allocated a midwife to provide antenatal care and education as well as postnatal home support and care for up to 10 days after birth.