The arrival of the 2005 New Year's baby had a touch of drama as one doctor delivered two babies just nine minutes apart.
Caryss Hill, born at 11:26 a.m. Jan. 2, at St. Mary's Hospital, won the title of the Sunshine Coast's New Year's baby. Madison Rochelle Visser arrived a short time later in the maternity room next door. Dr. Karen Scott delivered both babies.
Caryss' father, Mike Hill, was impressed with the way Dr. Scott managed the two deliveries.
"She was in total control," he said.
The Vissers arrived at St. Mary's Hospital about 20 minutes before the Hills. Since the Vissers were expecting their first baby while the Hills were having their third child, everyone thought the Hill baby would arrive first. But instead, both women's labours progressed at almost the same rate and it became clear the babies were about to arrive simultaneously.
"It just went right down to the last few minutes," said Christina Visser, Madison's mother. "The doctor was running back and forth between the two rooms. It was so funny. She had her hands full, but I didn't even notice. I thought she was there with me the whole time."
Another doctor was present for back up, but Dr. Scott was able to attend both deliveries.
"Every so often she left, but she was there when I needed her," said Tracy Hill, Caryss' mother. "She delivered Caryss, ran next door and delivered the other baby."
Both babies are healthy.
Caryss weighed in at seven pounds, four ounces. She is the third daughter in the Hill family, with older sisters Bookelyn, 3, and Alex, 6, and she he looks a lot like her big sister Alex.
Madison weighed six pounds, 14 ounces. She has a full head of hair and she definitely has her dad's toes and ears, her mother reports.
