Twins all the rage for Christmas

Identical twin (L-R) Alexander and Austin Hoang Walker were born on Christmas Day at Pindara Hospital. Proud parents Michelle and Brett Walker. Pic: Kate Czerny

A MULTITUDE of twins arrived in Pindara Hospital's maternity unit just in time for Christmas.

The hospital had 11 babies in its nursery on Christmas day, including five sets of twins.

Alexander and Austin Walker were the youngest twins  arriving early on Christmas morning.

Proud parents Brett and Michelle were not expecting the little bundles of joy until January 12, when Michelle was scheduled for a caesarean.

``My water broke about 1am and then they were born at 3.08am and 3.09am,'' said Michelle.``We are very lucky.''

The boys were born by emergency caesarean and were conceived in the couple's first round of IVF.

They had wanted twins and asked for two embryos to be implanted but their doctor decided to only implant one  which then split in two, giving them the twins they longed for.

``I don't know if we want any more babies but we have seven more embryos so we'll see,'' said Michelle.

Pindara midwife Janet Simpson said most of the babies in the ward had been premature and `wanted to get their Christmas presents'.

``It's the most amount of babies we have had in the nursery on Christmas Day in the 30 or so years it has been operating,'' she said.

The twins will feature in the Gold Coast Bulletin's baby book next month.

(Edit:Ruby)