Northland couple welcomes Leap Day twins at St. Mary’s Medical Center

It was a very special Leap Year for Northland residents Sara and Eric Carlson. The couple is celebrating the birth of twins on Leap Day at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center. It’s a rare day to have twins — the chances of being born on Feb. 29 are 1 in 1,461, according to the Social Security Administration. The odds of giving birth to twins on Leap Day are 1 in 50,000.

Sara gave birth to the two bundles of joy via C-section just before 9 a.m. Thursday. Baby Adam, the elder of the two, was born at 8:57 and weighed in at about 4.5 pounds. The younger of the two, baby Axal, was born one minute later and weighed about 3.7 pounds.

The two new additions join three other children in the Carlson home, giving them five children under the age of 8.

“I received wonderful care at Essentia,” Sara said after her delivery. “The nurses and staff were friendly and knowledgeable about the procedure and what I needed. Everything went so smoothly and efficiently. I feel very blessed and taken care of.”

The two babies are spending some expected time in the NICU, but both are doing well, as is mom.

“The birthplace at St. Mary’s Medical Center is proud to care for patients and families such as Sara and Eric’s,” said Meghan Sislo, nurse manager at the birthplace. “We are able to provide detailed, supportive and compassionate care from pregnancy through childbirth to support a positive birthing experience. In addition, whether it is a planned or unplanned need for a Level III NICU stay, St. Mary’s can provide support and can care for premature infants or infants who need more medical care. For Adam and Axal’s arrival, the birthing team and NICU team collaborated with ease and ensured they were prepared and equipped to have a successful, safe delivery, and birthing experience for Sara.”

The Carlsons will spend a few days in the hospital for recovery and monitoring, but they’re looking forward to embarking on this next chapter in their life.

“I’m looking most forward to them growing up together and watching them bond and grow with time,” mom said. “I can’t wait to see what similarities they share and what differences make them unique.”

The Baby-Friendly birthplace at St. Mary’s Medical Center features 13 private birth suites and six antepartum rooms offering care to high-risk patients and families. There are three midwifery suites that feature a birth pool for labor and a queen-size bed. The care and amenities will make your birthing experience unique, private and comfortable. This homelike atmosphere is welcoming, inviting and soothing.

Our experienced care team offers many options for expectant mothers, including a full scope of OB/GYN care, multiple birthing methods, NICU care, postnatal care and education, and care for ill and premature babies.