Maple Ridge’s twin New Years babies came three months early.
Chris and Alisha Powell thought she must be having false labour when the pains came on Dec. 31.
They went to Alisha’s doctor that morning, and he shocked the couple by informing them that the babies were coming that day.
“Our jaws dropped to the floor,” said Chris.
At 3:24 a.m. on the first day of 2014, Landon Powell was born, followed two minutes later by his sister Alivia.
They are the New Year’s babies for Ridge Meadows Hospital.
The twins were born at 26 weeks instead of the full 38, both around two pounds.
Landon was 975 grams, while Alivia was 845 g.
They were taken to Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, where they are in incubators.
Although the birth weights are low, Chris said the couple has been assured the twins are doing well, and children half that weight will thrive.
But it will be a while before the couple can bring their first children home. They will remain in hospital until closer to full term, and the due date was April 7.