Twins Are Northside Cherokee's Last Baby of 2016, First Birth of 2017

CANTON, GA -- New Year’s 2017 will be doubly special for Maricka Webster and Shawn Kaferly of Kennesaw, as it marks the birth of their twins at Northside Hospital-Cherokee in Canton.

Twins typically share a lot, but one thing these twins won’t be sharing is their birthday.

Aubree Rose Kaferly was born at 11:20 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, the last baby born at Northside Hospital-Cherokee in 2016.

Her younger brother, however, decided to take his time. Asher Rey Kaferly was born an hour after his sister, at 12:20 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 1, the first baby born at the hospital in 2017.

Not only were the twins born on different days, but in different years.

“It’s weird,” said Webster. “My aunt was like ‘are they still twins’?”

“I have few words,” said Kaferly. “I’m still in awe; that’s about it.”

Mom wasn’t due until Jan. 24, but went into the hospital early because of what she thought was decreased fetal movement. Babies were just fine, but mom wasn’t. A diagnosis of HELLP syndrome, a life-threatening pregnancy complication, would require a sooner-than-expected delivery.

“It was unexpected and crazy,” said Webster. “It was like 11 o’clock when I started really pushing; Aubree came out super quick and then we had to wait for Asher to come down and that took some time, and so then it just turned into after 12 o’clock.”

The family knew their twins would be born in 2016 or 2017, but as it turns out – they were born in both.

“It’s unique for me being a part of it, especially with a vaginal delivery,” said Dr. Britton Crigler, OB/GYN, who delivered the twins. “You can’t plan exactly what happens like you can with a C-section; I think that makes [the delivery] even more special and unique. I was just happy that everything went well.”

Baby Aubree came into the world weighing 5 pounds, 7 ounces and is 19 inches long. Asher weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces and is 20.5 inches long.

“We weren’t expecting a two-pound difference in the weight, so that’s likely one of the major reasons why it took so much longer for the second one because typically they deliver a little bit quicker,” said Dr. Crigler. “[Asher] just had to work his way down and he did, and everything went great.”

Although baby Asher stayed in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) overnight, he will be able to go home with his parents and sister on Tuesday or Wednesday. Mom and both babies are doing well.

The twins join nearly-two-year-old sister, Londyn.

As for if parents plan to celebrate the twins’ birthdays together or separately, mom says that there will definitely just be one birthday party.

“Although I’m sure there will be a point in time when they request separate parties,” said Webster.

To celebrate the arrival of the “New Year’s baby,” staff at Northside Hospital-Cherokee decorated the family’s door and room with balloons and streamers. They also gave the family a giant diaper cake and a gift basket.

In all, three babies were born at Northside Hospital-Cherokee on New Year’s Day. Approximately 1,200 babies were born at the hospital in 2016.

Asher's birth marked another milestone for the hospital. He is the last “New Year’s baby” to be born in the current Northside Hospital-Cherokee.

The new Northside Hospital-Cherokee will open in May 2017.

Images via Northside Hospital-Cherokee