Two is a lucky number for employees at a Brechin takeaway after a pair of workers gave birth to sets of twins only two days apart.
The women have worked at the Ashvale fish and chip restaurant in Trinity Road for years and were both pleased to show off their chips off the old block, already being dubbed “the Ashvale nippers”.
One of the new arrivals has just returned home after a prolonged stay in Ninewells Hospital’s SCBU premature baby unit.
Hayley Holland (26) and her partner Andy Nestorow have already had two boys, Miller and Leland. Twins Keanu and Kennedy were born on November 2 13 weeks early.
Keanu spent nine weeks in the neonatal unit and Kennedy spent 14 weeks there.
Hayley (26) said: “They went for intensive care, with incubators, ventilators, all wired up.
“Andy had to go back to his work and we had the boys as well so we would only get to go up about teatime. It was scary. Kennedy just got home last week and we’ve got on great since then.”
Lugging around another precious object, a breathing monitor, Andy (31) said: “This just checks her breathing and keeps on beeping every so often. If she doesn’t breathe in 20 seconds it goes off.
“It was just her oxygen that was holding her back but the more she grows she needs it less.”
Asked if the pair had shared a fish supper on a special night prior to their double dose of good fortune, they said: “We may well have done.”
Michaela Strachan and partner Robbie Hill had twins Keirra and Riley induced at 37 weeks in Ninewells on October 31.
Michaela (21) said: “Keirra had a raised fontanelle, which could have been a big problem but she had an MRI scan and it came back clear.
“We got moved to Montrose maternity unit the next day after having them, and the care was great.
“I’ve got a wee boy Kade already. It’s been a bit hectic with the children but we are setting into a routine now.”
Ashvale operations manager Stuart Devine said he was delighted all four babies are healthy and doing well.
He said: “We’ve got a lot of recruitment potential for the future. It was quite funny the girls having twins at the same time, given that the shop’s so small.”
A charity night is being organised for October or November, with Hayley already deciding her share of proceeds will go to the Ninewells unit.
“I cannot put that unit down, the good work that they do there,” she said.
“There were four lots of twins in there, during the time we were in there, and every time we went in there were new babies.”