Surprise! First-time mother discovers she is having twins minutes AFTER giving birth to her newborn daughter - when stunned doctors saw a second head as they prepared to stitch her up
- Nicole Ziesmer, 31, from Grand Haven, Michigan, had been in labor for over 45 hours when she gave birth to newborn daughter Blakeley
- The new mother and her husband Matthew, 34, had opted for a 'natural pregnancy' and therefore only had one scan - which showed just one baby
- Having been introduced to her first child, Nicole therefore thought her birth was over, but doctors spotted a second baby's head when they went to stitch her up
- Nicole gave birth to baby boy Cade less than an hour later
- It is thought that Cade was 'hiding' behind his sister in the womb, which is why doctors were not able to see him during Nicole's scan
- The new parents say they are delighted to have two newborns, and Nicole says she can't imagine having just one baby
A first-time mother discovered she was having twins during a 47-hour labor - but only when doctors spotted a second head while preparing to stitch her up.
Nicole, 31, and Matthew Ziesemer, 34, from Grand Haven, Michigan, had only just been introduced to daughter Blakeley when doctors realized she was still in labor.
They spotted 'another head' as they went to stitch her up post-birth, and baby Cade was born 59 minutes later.
Shock: First-time parents Nicole and Matthew Ziesemer discovered they were having twins only after Nicole had given birth to her daughter Blakeley
A surprise blessing: Nicole, 31, had already given birth to daughter Blakeley (right) when doctors spotted another baby's head as they were preparing to stitch up her vagina
Tough love: The new mother, pictured in hospital shortly after the birth, had been in labor for more than 45 hours when she opted to have an epidural and a suction birth for her first child
Devoted parents: Nicole joked that she thought the biggest surprise about her birth would be learning the sex of their baby, however she says she and Matthew couldn't be happier
Expectant: The new parents, pictured during Nicole's pregnancy, chose to only have one scan, on the same day that Nicole went into labor
Stunned: 'It was really scary when they said that something else was inside me,' Nicole said. 'And when they told us that it was another baby I literally asked her if she was lying'
The couple had a 'natural pregnancy', and only had one scan - the day she went into labor - but it's thought Cade was 'hiding' behind his sister, so wasn't spotted.
Nicole is home with her family, and said she now can't imagine just having one baby.
Thrilled: Doctors believe that Cade was 'hiding' behind his sister in the womb during Nicole's one and only scan
The dedicated mom, who worked in insurance before becoming a full-time mother, said: 'It was crazy. We were over the moon but it utter shock.
'There were really no signs that I was carrying more than one baby, in fact people said how small I was.
'We thought the biggest surprise was going to be the sex of the baby, little did we know!
'It was really scary when they said that something else was inside me.
'And when they told us that it was another baby I literally asked her if she was lying!
'I just couldn't take it all in and was still in so much pain that it was almost impossible to process.
'But I really can't imagine having just one baby now. It's like they were meant to be. I love the thought that they'll always have each other.'
Nicole planned a natural home birth with just a midwife present, but had to go to the nearest hospital - Gerber Memorial, Michigan - when her waters broke at just 36 weeks.
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Delighted: Although the arrival of a second child was a complete surprise to the parents, they say they are thrilled to have welcomed two babies
Worry: Doctors began to worry about Nicole after daughter Blakeley (left) was born because she was still in agony; it was then that they discovered she was also carrying a son, Cade (right)
Change of plans: Nicole had wanted to do a natural home birth, however when her waters broke at 36 weeks, she was rushed to nearby Gerber Memorial, Michigan
Meeting: After he was born, Cade had trouble breathing on his own, so he was rushed to Spectrum Hospital, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to undergo treatment
Process: 'We were still reeling from the shock and just trying to get our heads around it all,' Nicole said of the days following her babies' birth
Family: While Cade (right) was in hospital, his father stayed with him, while Nicole and Blakeley (left) remained together for further monitoring
Nicole - who had severe morning sickness throughout the pregnancy - decided to forgo painkillers in favor of breathing exercises, a yoga ball and cool showers.
She didn't have any scans throughout her pregnancy, apart from one on the day we went into labor.
Under control: Matthew says his wife Nicole is doing an 'amazing job' with both babies
After being in labor for over 45 hours the expectant mother opted for an epidural and a suction, and after another two hours Blakeley arrived, at 10.06pm on December 30 weighing 4lbs 4oz.
But doctors grew worried as instead to the pain subsiding, Nicole was still in agony after the delivery.
They were due to stitch Nicole's vagina up, but realized that something else was in there, she said.
While medics were trying to retrieve her placenta, it became clear something wasn't quite right, and decided to do an emergency ultrasound.
Nicole gave birth again 59 minutes later, to a baby boy, weighing 5lbs.
Baby Cade was having difficulty breathing on his own, so was rushed straight off to nearby Spectrum Hospital, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Nicole, who stayed with her daughter, said: 'Over the next few days my husband was primarily with Cade while my daughter and I stayed in for observations.
'We were still reeling from the shock and just trying to get our heads around it all.
Anticipation: Nicole and Matthew, pictured before the birth of their babies, met online in 2012
Off they go! After spending time under observation in hospital to ensure that both babies and their mother were fully healthy, the family was allowed to go home
Overjoyed: The couple had to go shopping for duplicates of all of the clothing and essentials they had already bought for Blakeley after they were allowed home with their babies
Happy and healthy: After Cade spent some time in hospital, he was allowed home with his family, and both babies are now thriving
Family history: The couple, pictured right with their babies on Halloween, have since learned that triplets and twins run in Nicole's family
Going strong: The babies are now one year old and the family-of-four couldn't be happier
Dedicated: Before giving birth, Nicole, pictured left with her babies, worked in insurance, however she has now devoted herself to being a full-time mother
'But primarily all we wanted was for them both to be strong and healthy.
'The craziest thing is that on the day I went into labor I did have a scan but it only picked up the one baby.
'They think that Cade must have been hiding right behind his sister.'
Happy: Although the arrival of their twins came as a surprise, Nicole and Matthew both say they would be happy to have a natural pregnancy again in the future
When allowed home, the couple, who met online in 2012, went shopping for duplicates of all the baby equipment that they'd previously purchased for just one.
Matt, a chiropractor, and Nicole have since been told that twins and triplets run in her side of the family.
She said: 'It was amazing to hear that it's a bit of a family tradition, my grandma's cousins apparently had twins and triplets.
'People do ask us if we were to have another baby, "Would we have scans this time?" but I honestly don't think we would.
'Unless there were any clear medical red flags, I'd do it just the same all over again.'
Matt added: ''It was truly was just such a surreal moment. I could not believe that my wife was carrying two children that entire time.
'My wife does an amazing job with the two of them. I really don't know how she does it all day every day.'
