Kristin Lammert has spent three August 25s in the delivery room in the past six years. Her first daughter, Sophia, was born on August 25, 2015. At that point, Sophia only shared her birthday with the family rescue dog, Koda Bear. But three years later, Sophia celebrated her birthday by meeting her sister Giuliana for the first time. And the tradition continued this past August 25th with the arrival of their sister, Mia.
“By my third one, I’m like, ‘Wow, this is kind of like freaky fate,'” Lammert said. [1]
“One in a 17 billion chance”
“We were just in disbelief,” Lammert, 32, said about Mia’s birth. “The closer we got to Aug. 25 and the more that we joked about it at home, the more I wanted it to happen. … Actually, Sophia said that she was going to get a sister again for her sixth birthday. She was wanting that to happen and I thought, ‘Well, it could.’”
The likelihood of this triple birthdate is so rare, the odds are almost impossible to estimate.
“It is extremely rare. … We’ve spoken to some statisticians and they say it’s really hard to calculate,” said Dr. Christine Greves, an OB-GYN at Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies. “The Guinness Book of World Records holder is a family that has five siblings born on the same day and they listed that as being about one in a 17 billion chance.”
Plus, Greves stated that only 5% of babies are born on their estimated due dates. Sophia was born two weeks late when her mother was induced. And when Lammert learned that Giuliana’s due date was August 29, she had a feeling the baby would arrive sooner. “I had joked that she could come four days early and the family was like, ‘Well, yeah but that’s probably not going to happen on its own,’” she said.
However, after Sophia’s third birthday party, Lammert learned that she had elevated blood pressure. Therefore, her doctors decided to induce her, and by 10:30 p.m. Giuliana was born. And little Sophia was delighted. “Sophia is very emotional about a lot of things in a good way,” Lammert said. “She appreciates the uniqueness and excitement of that.” [2]
Read: Mom-to-be conceives a third baby — while pregnant with twins
Accidentally Sharing Three Birthdays
Ever since sharing her story with Today, Lammert received many positive comments with some skepticism that these birthdays were all a coincidence. Therefore, Lammert explained that there was some planning involved. For instance, they knew they wanted three years between each baby. And for their first, they wanted her to arrive in August, between the big holidays. And for their third child, they were aiming for September since they didn’t want their child to be the youngest in their grade at school.
Although she was induced for all of the pregnancies, that was under the guidance of their doctors, not a deliberate aim for the same date.
“The date doesn’t just automatically line up. My doctors were not going to induce me just because the date sounded cool,” Lammert said. “My body just, now we know, needs that extra help.”
In the meantime, Sophia loves planning their shared birthday celebrations. “She thinks that it’s very special,” Lammert said. “She just loves that she’s sharing her birthday with her sister because she’s now had three birthday parties that have been joint birthday parties.”
While Sophia and Giuliana decide on the party’s theme, Lammert ensures that each girl gets the same number of guests and gifts. They even get separate birthday cakes with candles to blow out on their own. “We try to separate it but make it a joint party at the same time. That way they both feel like special birthday girls,” their mother explained.
Mia’s Birth
But this year, their shared birthday had an extra surprise. Lammert woke up with swollen ankles and a headache. She had contracted Covid-19 when she was 10 weeks pregnant so her doctors were closely monitoring her symptoms due to her higher risk of complications. Additionally, this could also mean that Mia will be born before her due date in September. [3]
“My doctor said up to two weeks early. That’s when I looked at the calendar and I remember turning to my husband and saying, ‘Oh my gosh, Nick, two weeks before the due date is Aug. 25,’” Lammert said. “He’s like, ‘No way.’ That was the moment I was like, ‘She’s totally going to be born on the 25th.’”
When Lammert went to her doctor about the headache and swelling, she was diagnosed with preeclampsia. The doctors induced Lammert and Mia was born on August 25th. Her older sisters adore her and it’s exciting to think what their first shared birthday will look like next year.
“It’s very unique. Honestly, I don’t understand it myself,” Lammert said. “Sometimes I go and stare at their birth certificates. I’m like, ‘They actually all have the same birthday.’”
Keep Reading: Photographer Gives Birth to Twins, One Dark-Skinned and the Other Albino, and They Are a Sight For Sore Eyes
Sources
- “This family has 3 daughters born on August 25, and they’re not triplets or twins.” CNN. Sherry Liang. October 24, 2021
- “’In disbelief’: Mom gives birth to 3 girls on the same day exactly 3 years apart.” Today. Meghan Holohan. October 20, 2021
- “3 Sisters Were Born on the Same Day, Each 3 Years Apart: ‘It Simply Feels Surreal,’ Says Mom.” People. Joelle Goldstein. October 22, 2021