Three sisters give birth on consecutive days

ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- The first surprise was when three sisters discovered they were pregnant and due around the same time.

But the bigger surprise came last week when their babies were born on three consecutive days at the same hospital in this St. Louis suburb. The sisters live in Warrenton, about 40 miles away.

"I've had sisters deliver within a week or so of each other, but nothing like this," said Dr. Evelyne Schuetz. Her medical partner offered to deliver the third, but Schuetz said no way.

"I said, 'I've delivered the two, I have to deliver the third."'

Tracey Mueller, 28, was the first to give birth; Sophia Ann Mueller arrived on Dec. 28.

Labor pains next struck Trisha Duvel, 31, who delivered Jack Thomas Duvel on Dec. 29.

Jamie Roden, 24, checked into St. Joseph Health Center the next afternoon, and Kara Grace Roden arrived.

"It was a complete joke the entire pregnancy that we'd have them at the same time," Duvel said.

Their mother, Sondra Dames, 53, stayed at the hospital nearly the entire time.