Gold Coast businesswoman and founder of Essence of Living yoga studio, Michelle Cassidy (nee Merrifield), will today return home after giving birth to the first set of twins to be born at the new Gold Coast Private Hospital.
Kobe, a little boy weighing 2.48kg, was born last Monday (July 13) at 7.49am, just a few minutes before his sister, Grace, who weighed 2.55kg.
The twins spent their first days being cared for in the hospital’s state-of-the-art Special Care Nursery and will arrive home for the first time today.
Michelle said while it had been a difficult pregnancy, she forgot all the hardships as soon as she held her twins.
“I was ready to do it all again as soon as I saw Kobe and Grace,” she said.
“We are just besotted with them and feel so blessed to have two perfect babies.
“The entire experience has been amazing and the Gold Coast Private Hospital has been incredible.
“The best thing, apart from the amazing food, is that the friendly midwives are really hands-on and teach you everything you need to know about being a new mum.
“I’ve been taught how to bath safely, change nappies efficiently, express milk productively, bottle feed easily, sterilise bottles hygienically and sleep soundly.
“I feel like I’ve been going to mummy school for the last week and I can’t emphasise how helpful it’s been because I have to manage two premature babies which means feeding, expressing milk and nappy changing eight times each a day.
“For a first time Mum this is invaluable and I couldn’t be more grateful for the care I’ve been given.
“Brad and I are now really excited about going home and starting this new chapter of our lives as a family.”
First-time-Dad, Brad Cassidy, said his little girl would not be allowed to date until she was 30.
“I had the talk to Grace as soon as she was born and explained no one would be allowed to take her on a date until she was 30, and that I would be going along to supervise,” he said.
Kobe and Grace are the first twins to be born in the new maternity ward which opened in March with five birth suites, 25 private antenatal and postnatal rooms and nine special care cots that cater for babies 32 weeks and above.
The new $230-million Healthscope-operated facility is co-located with the Gold Coast University Hospital and forms a major part of the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct.