Parallel pregnancies

~ Local sisters give birth within 32 hours of each other

The same obstetrician.

The same hospital.

The same due date.

Both baby girls.

Both first-borns.

One was born at 7:37 p.m. The other at 3:37 a.m.

"Crazy."

That's how sisters Shea Johnson and Shanna Crosier describe the past nine months, after they discovered they were both pregnant.

Twenty-three-year-old Shanna and her husband, Scott, announced their big news in June, when she was about six weeks along.

At that time, 31-year-old Shea knew she was expecting as well, but kept it a secret for another six weeks.

"I was so tempted to say, 'we are too!' when Shanna announced it, but I waited. I wanted her to have the attention," said Shea, who lives in Scott City with husband Faron.

The sisters had doctor's appointments a week a part throughout their pregnancies, and found out the sex of their children within a week of each other.

Gracie Johnson was born at 7:37 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27. Landrie Crosier at 3:37 a.m., Wednesday, March 1.

The sisters' mom, Patty Barr, had one important piece of advice for her daughters: Don't do this again.

"We loved it, but it was really hard too," said Barr, who lives in Scott City. "There was a 48-hour period where I only got six hours of sleep."

Barr, who has six daughters and two sons, later told her children to make sure they avoid close due dates in the future.

With all the similarities, the sisters' pregnancy experiences were still different. Shanna describes her pregnancy as easy, while Shea dealt with back and rib pain as well as gestational diabetes. Shanna had a cesaerean section, while Shea gave birth naturally.

The newborns are different as well.

Landrie is quiet and sleeps most of the day, while Macie is prone to temper tantrums and is very active.

Shea and Shanna envision their daughters growing up more like sisters than cousins.

"It's neat that they're so close together," said Shanna. "Without someone to talk to during our pregnancies, we would have been so much more nervous."

cmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128