Detroit Lakes hospital sees boom in twins

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. - Hospital officials here are at a loss about how to explain the sudden boom of twins born at St. Mary's Innovis Health during a three-week period late this fall.

Detroit Lakes-area parents gave birth to five sets of twins - including nine girls and one boy - at the hospital from Oct. 20 to Nov. 10.

"We have had many twins born here, but never so many within such a short period of time," said Nancy Kinslow, the hospital's public relations coordinator.

"Five sets of twins in three weeks```that's pretty unusual," added Becky Aulden, obstetrics nurse manager at St. Mary's.

Even more unusual, Aulden said, is that only one of those five multiple births was premature, meaning it took place less than 38 weeks into the pregnancy.

"That doesn't happen all that often anymore," said Aulden, noting that the frequency of premature birth is much higher when multiple fetuses are involved. "To have four sets of twins born past 38 weeks is a great success."

And even the pair of "preemies," born on Oct. 29 to rural Detroit Lakes residents Katie and Job Aho were only hospitalized for a week before they were sent home to live with their parents.

Although mother Katie's Caesarean-section birth went well, Malaki and Macie Aho were taken to Innovis Hospital in Fargo immediately after birth because their lungs weren't fully developed.

The other births during the twin boom:

Sheyenne Rae and Shayna Aleese Somdahl to parents Jeri Jasken and Jay Somdahl on Oct. 20.

Camilla and Bianca Fingalson to parents Anna and Jerrod Fingalson on Oct. 30.

Tarin and Kindle Sunblad to parents Rachael Johnson and Matt Sundblad on Nov. 6.

Brooklyn and Kylie Kerkevold to parents Tiffany Helgeson and Justin Kerkevold on Nov. 10.

(Edit:Ruby)