There must be something in the water in Crystal Wood Drive.
Seven neighbours all became pregnant at the same time – and gave birth within seven weeks of each other.
And now the mothers are all celebrating their babies’ first birthdays a year on.
Baby boom: The seven mothers of Miskin, south Wales who gave birth to their babies within seven weeks of each other
The women, from Miskin, near Pontypridd, South Wales, all gave birth at the same hospital, where midwives noticed they lived on the same road.
They were so impressed by the coincidence that they rechristened it Fertile Wood Drive. Teacher Nia Edwards, 34, set the ball rolling when her twin girls, Mali and Elen, arrived on April 10 last year.
Six of her neighbours all gave birth within the next seven weeks.
Karen Hulse had Catrin, Kirsty Davies had Macsen, Jane Prentice-Jenkins had Brook, Sharron Bateman had Poppy, Jo Morgan had Ava and Angela Fomison had Harriet.
Kirsty Davies said it was ‘bizarre but brilliant’ that they had all been pregnant together.
‘When we found out how many of us were expecting at the same time, one of the girls invited us all round to her house for a get-together,’ said the 34-year-old, who also has a daughter Lily, three.
‘Now we all meet up at least once a week with the babies – we’ll go for a coffee or to the park. And we all babysit for each other, which is a great help for new mums.
‘It will be so lovely to see them all grow up together – it’s like an extended family.’ She added: ‘When I went into the hospital the midwives were saying, “Oh, here comes another one from Fertile Wood Drive”.
Timely arrivals: From left, Nia Edwards with Mali and Elen, Karen Hulse with Catrin, Kirsty Davies with Macsem, Jane Prentice-Jenkins with Brook, Sharron Bateman with Poppy, Jo Morgan with Ava and Angela Fomison with Harriet
‘We didn’t really know each other before – but we all do now. There are about 30 houses on the street so for us all to give birth within seven weeks of each other is quite impressive.’ The women have decided to send all the children – seven girls and one boy – to the same school in Llantrisant where they will share the same classes.
Mrs Edwards said: ‘I bumped into one of the girls from around the corner at a doctors’ appointment and we thought it was a big enough coincidence that we were both pregnant at the same time.To find out there were five more babies on the way was just brilliant.
‘We’re all great friends now – and with our very own little mother- and-baby group we hardly need to leave the street.
‘It’s also great for me, being the one with twins – there’s always six other pairs of hands ready to help me.’
The mothers are organising a joint first birthday celebration – on the day of the Royal Wedding. They will celebrate with a street party and watch the wedding on a big screen.
Mrs Edwards said: ‘It will be a street party with a difference – and hopefully we can get seven babysitters so we can celebrate into the night.’
