BORN THREE! Three sisters give birth to trio of girls within weeks.

Byline: Cara Simpson 

GRAN Lynn Smith from Coventry certainly knows that all good things come in threes.

Amazingly each of her three daughters has just given birth to a baby girl at University Hospital - all in the space of just seven weeks Close sisters - Nicola Quinn, 31, Cheryl Smith, 29, and Gemma Shannon, 27 - had no idea of each other's pregnancy until they told their mum the good news one after another soon after Christmas last year.

Nicola, a buyer, of Bredon Avenue, Ernesford Grange, says it came as a big surprise to the whole family.

She said: "We were all in the kitchen when Gemma announced she was pregnant.

"Then I said I might as well tell you I'm pregnant and then Cheryl said I might as well tell you I'm pregnant as well. We were all in shock. The thought did cross our minds that we could end up having them on the same day, but we were convinced at least one of us would have a boy.

"I don't know how to put it into words, it's just such a strange coincidence that all of us sisters had babies one after the other, and that they are all girls. Everyone I tell just can't believe it."

The sisters shared the same midwife and shopped for baby clothes together, all with huge pregnancy bumps and their other children in tow.

They admit they must have been a funny sight to other people who saw them together. First to come into the world was Gemma's daughter Paige Summerhill, who was born on August 1 and weighed in at 8lbs 4oz - a little sister for Gemma's son Reece, six.

Second was Nicola's baby, Amelia Quinn, who was born on September 18 and tipped the scales at 7lb 4oz - a playmate for older brother Oliver, 16 months.

Little Roxanne Bonsor-Smith, Cheryl's daughter, completed the trio when she was born on September 23, weighing 9lb 4oz.

Roxanne is welcomed by her older sister Shelby, two.

When laid together they look like triplets, and their family predict they will look alike when they get older.

The sisters will plan a joint first birthday for them and are looking forward to the future as the cousins grow up together and become best friends.

Gemma, a sales assistant, of Keswick Walk, Wyken, said: "I think they're likely to end up at the same secondary school because we all live in the same area.

"It would be nice if they went to Caludon Castle because that was where we went when we were kids." Lynn, a medical secretary, of Bracadale Close, Binley, who watched her number of grandchildren doubled in seven weeks, says they are unique blessing for the family.

"I really am so delighted," she said. "I wonder how frequently this happens? "I've never heard anything like it myself.

"When I told people my daughters were pregnant at the same time, they all reacted in the same way... by screeching and saying 'All three?' "I would say, 'Yes, all three!'"

CAPTION(S):

THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE THREE... sisters, from left, Nicola Quinn, Gemma Shannon and Cheryl Smith hold their new daughters Amelia Quinn, Paige Summerhill and Roxanne Bonsor-Smith with proud grandmother Lynn Smith.