Pregnancy seems infectious at one labour ward, as nine nurses who work there are all due to give birth within weeks of one another.
The expecting medical staff all work in the labour and delivery unit at Maine Medical Centre, the largest hospital in Maine, US.
Photos of the nurses were posted to Facebook, where the women showed off their respective bumps and held signs revealing their due dates.
GettyThough some look a little bit closer to popping than others, the new arrivals are all due between April and July – so it looks like the hospital will have to find a hoard of staff to cover as they embark on their maternity leave!
The Facebook post read:
How’s this for a baby boom? Nine of our nurses (8 of whom are in this photo) are expecting babies between April and July! Congratulations!
How’s this for a baby boom? Nine of our nurses (8 of whom are in this photo) are expecting babies between April and July! Congratulations!
Posted by Maine Medical Center on Monday, 25 March 2019
The nurses spoke to WMTW-TV about how they’re supporting each other through the process, as reported by the Mail Online.
Mother-to-be Erin Grenier recalled learning about each of the nine women’s pregnancies, saying:
After each one of us started to say, ‘We’re pregnant,’ I think it was a happier announcement each time, and we’re all there for each other.
There’s been times where we’ve been the patient. So it’s been great to have each other either being our nurse or just being there for us, sending us a message, checking in on us making sure everything is okay.
Nurse Amanda Spear spoke about how great it was to have others going through the same experiences, saying:
It’s really nice coming to work and seeing other people who are just as pregnant and watching their bellies pop and just talking about these experiences that we are going through together.
According to WGME, fellow staff member Nicole Goldberg said the nurses’ pregnancies can be reassuring to patients who come in to the labour ward.
She explained:
I think that they tend to feel comforted and they also tend to find that it’s a common ground between us.
GettyNurse Holly Selby added how she was looking forward to her little one having lots of new friends to play with:
I think we’re looking forward to raising our babies together. To having friends, playdates and continuing the support of having shared experiences of all having babies together.
It’s unclear whether any or all of the nurses are first-time mums, but hopefully their time spent on the labour ward will have prepared them for what’s to come over the next few weeks!
Amazing.
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Emily Brown first began delivering important news stories aged just 13, when she launched her career with a paper round. She graduated with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University, and went on to become a freelance writer and blogger. Emily contributed to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news as well as longer form features.