NJ Sisters Deliver Babies On Same Day At St. Peter's Hospital

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — In the midst of the doom and gloom about coronavirus, here is some bright news: Two New Jersey sisters delivered their babies on the same day this month at St. Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick.

The babies, both girls, were born April 2 at St. Peter's.

The sister are Katelyn "Katie" Scott, 36, who lives in Branchburg; this is her third daughter. And Kerry Kuboski, 33, who lives in Pittstown; this is her second daughter.

"We tend to run girls in our family!" laughed Scott, noting that she and Kerry are two of four girls.

The two sisters said that although they are very close, they did not try to time the conception or birth of their babies.

"Katie had a BBQ on Labor Day and announced to our whole family that she was pregnant," said younger sister Kuboski. "My husband and I stayed afterwards and told them privately that we were pregnant, as well! We didn't realize it at the time, but it turned out our due dates were a week apart."

Both sisters had delivered at St. Peter's before and said it was a "no brainer" to choose to deliver there again.

"It has a phenomenal reputation and everyone I know that has delivered there has had great experiences," said Kuboski. "I moved further away and have no intention of delivering anywhere else but St. Peter's."

On April 2, Kuboski had a scheduled cesarean section. Her older sister was a few days past her due date at that point and oddly enough, she went into labor the morning of her sister's C-section.

Scott got to the hospital at 10:30 a.m.; after laboring all day, her baby girl was born at 6:42 p.m.

Meanwhile her younger sister delivered her daughter safely via c-section at the scheduled time of 11:09 a.m.

The St. Peter's doctors and nurses had no idea there were two sisters in the maternity ward until the sisters told them. Once the staff found out, they put the women in rooms right next to each other. The sisters kept in touch by knocking on walls and FaceTiming with each other.

What's it like delivering a baby in the COVID-19 pandemic?

"We were a little nervous," said Scott. "The quarantine had started two weeks before. I don't think we imagined where we'd be now, six weeks with no end in sight."

"There were other hospitals in the area that were not allowing husbands in the delivery rooms," said Kuboski. "Thankfully, St. Peter's did not change their rules and our husbands were allowed in the delivery room."

Robert Wood Johnson, for example, was not allowing fathers in the delivery room for a period.

"(Coronavirus) didn't feel like a constant worry when were there; it felt very safe," said Kuboski. "Although the hospital took precautions and people were wearing masks, it really was just business as usual. Besides, the nurses were still so upbeat and friendly."

Both the women and their babies are now at home, in good health and riding out the rest of the quarantine.

"It was just fate," said Scott. "We hang out a lot; we're very close. These baby girls are going to see each other often. These two will be just as connected as they were on the day they were born. And they definitely have a story to tell about how they've been friends since day one."