Two-fer Tuesday: Sisters unexpectedly deliver babies on same day

Related Photos

Eva Seymour, of Georgetown, top center, stands between her daughters and sons-in-law, Kyle and Amanda Richardson, left, of New Albany, posing with their newborn daughter Emma Grace Marie Richardson, and Adam and Andrea Combs, of Georgetown, posing with their newborn son, Archie David Combs, and their other son Aidan, 15 months, far right, in the Floyd Memorial Hospital Birthing Center in New Albany on Wednesday afternoon. Amanda was due Oct. 14 and Andrea was due Oct. 15, but they both ended up naturally giving birth on Tuesday, Oct. 9, at Floyd Memorial. Staff photo by Christopher Fryer

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October 11, 2012

Two-fer Tuesday: Sisters unexpectedly deliver babies on same day

By MATT KOESTERS matt.koesters@newsandtribune.com The News and Tribune Thu Oct 11, 2012, 07:51 AM EDT

NEW ALBANY — When Eva Seymour was roused out of sleep in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, she awoke to the excitement of one of her daughters giving birth. But she couldn’t have known that she would be experiencing the thrill of a baby on the way twice in the same day.

But that’s what happened to Seymour when — just hours after her daughter, Amanda Richardson, gave birth to a daughter — Seymour’s other daughter, Andrea Combs, gave birth to a son.

“It’s a miracle,” Seymour said. “It’s such a blessing, such an absolute blessing. ... My husband and I both, we’re very proud of our kids. We have five children, and to have this come about like this is just such a miracle.”

Neither of the two new mothers were induced. Combs was due Oct. 14, while Richardson expected her daughter Oct. 15. Both children were born at Floyd Memorial Hospital and Health Services in New Albany.

It all started when Richardson placed an early-morning phone call to her parents’ home. When Seymour’s husband awoke his wife, she expected the call to be from Combs.

“He said, ‘It’s not Andrea, it’s Amanda!” Seymour said.

The Seymours rushed to the hospital to witness the birth of their second grandchild. Emma Grace Marie Richardson was born at 10:59 a.m., a healthy 7-pound, 8-ounce girl.

Seymour thought she would have some time to relax before returning to the hospital, but Combs wanted to see her new niece so Seymour went to pick her up. And by the time Combs got in the car, there was more than one reason to rush back to Floyd Memorial. Combs was in labor.

“It’s crazy. I did not expect that to happen at all,” Combs said. “I was getting ready to see [Richardson], and then all of the sudden I started contracting, and I was like, ‘Oh my... .”

Seymour flipped on the caution lights on her car, rushing Combs to the hospital while Combs experienced contractions that were just a minute apart.

“I thought we were going to have a highway delivery,” Seymour recalled.

The pair rushed into the hospital, calling out for a wheelchair for Combs. As Combs was being wheeled into the labor-delivery room, Richardson was being wheeled out.

“I was a little shocked,” Richardson said. “I wasn’t expecting that. I didn’t even know she was coming in.”

At about 7 p.m. Combs gave birth to Archie David Combs, a 9-pound, 3-ounce baby boy. Combs and her husband didn’t have a name picked out, but inspiration struck when they overheard a nurse at the hospital discussing Archie Manning.

Although Tuesday was a whirlwind of excitement for the Seymours, they’re getting used to having a lot going on with their children. Three of Seymour’s other daughters were married last year.

“This has been a very, very intense year,” Seymour said.

As for Richardson and Combs, their children will give them reason for a family gathering every year.

“We’ll have crazy birthdays, that’s for sure,” Richardson said.