A pair of twins have been born with not only different birth days but also different birth years, after they were born slightly before and slightly after midnight on New Year's Eve.
The twins, named Alfredo and Aylin, were born to parents Fatima Madrigal and Robert Trujillo of Greenfield, California, at 11:45pm on December 31, 2021, and at midnight on January 1, 2022, giving them unique birth days and years despite being fraternal siblings.
Fatima said:
"It's crazy to me that they are twins and have different birthdays. I was surprised and happy that she arrived at midnight."
At birth, Alfredo weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce, while Aylin weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces. Both are said to be in fantastic health. They will join the rest of the family, their parents and their 3 older siblings at their home in Monterey County.
Fatima announced that she couldn't believe what had happened and that the rest of the family were excited to meet the new arrivals.
Dr. Ana Abril Arias, who works at the hospital where the twins were born, added:
"This was definitely one of the most memorable deliveries of my career. It was an absolute pleasure to help these little ones arrive here safely in 2021 and 2022. What an amazing way to start the New Year!"
About 1.6 million twins are born each year worldwide, with one in every 42 children. Remarkably, the number of twins being born has increased worldwide by around 30% over the last 40 years, and by over 70% in North America.
Theories as to why there has been a rise in the number of twins includes the use of artificial techniques for conception, such as IVF. In Africa, the number of twins has always been higher, a fact that doctors put down to genetic differences.
[Based on reporting by: The Daily Mail]
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