The birth of your first child is always an incredibly special moment, but one couple's experience became even more meaningful when their daughter was born on their joint birthdays. Simone Milner turned 29 on November 18, while her partner Matthew Leigh turned 40 on the same day. After little Alma Leigh held on a couple of weeks past her due date, she arrived to share her parents' birthday - making it a miraculous triple celebration.
The couple have described their late arrival as the 'best present ever' after celebrating the same birthday together for six years. Now baby Alma has joined the birthday club after arriving a full 15 days later than expected.
Simone, from Stockport, Cheshire, said: "It would have been a really special day whenever she arrived, but this was amazing.
She's the best birthday gift ever. You can't do better than that, and it really is a special day now.
"I have to say giving birth didn't make it feel like a birthday at all. I only remember being really high on gas and air and shortly after midnight Mat said 'Happy Birthday'. I was like 'oh is it our birthday?'
"It was such a far cry her being 15 days overdue. It's almost like she made a choice to come on our birthday."
The overjoyed couple were expecting their daughter to arrive on November 3, but got the best surprise when she arrived safely two weeks later.
Mat explained: "It's magical. It's very special to share the date as a family.
"For someone with a terrible memory it makes it easy to remember two very important days of the year."
Mum Simone, who works in property finance, met her partner Mat when she signed up at the gym he owns in back November 2016.
Days after he contacted her on Facebook Messenger pointing out that they share their birthday, and after a few other messages were exchanged, the pair were off to enjoy their first date.
The couple had an instant connection and were an official item within a couple of months. Each year, they celebrate their joint birthday with a trip away or a lavish restaurant meal - but not this time, as they spend it in hospital instead.
The couple had no idea that their first baby would arrive on their birthday when they got the wonderful surprise news that Simone was pregnant in spring, because Alma was due on November 3.
The couple went into hospital for a routine monitoring check up at 4pm on the 17th, and accepted the midwife's offer to break the waters of their 14-day overdue baby.
After a 12-hour overnight labour Alma was in an awkward position, so doctors advised a c-section for the next day.
Little Alma was born weighing seven pounds four ounces as her dad turned 40 and her mum 29, and the couple were still opening birthday cards a week later.
"Our house was flooded with good wishes", Simone gushed, "There wasn't a window sill or table top free of cards.
"It's odd all sharing a birthday because you're celebrating yourself, but also everyone else. But at least we'll never forget each others' birthdays.
Mat's dad Frank had been rooting for the birth of his granddaughter on the 18th and texted Simone to cross her legs when she went into hospital on 17th.
Simone explained she is particularly excited to share her 50th with Alma's 21st.
