Sibling Revelry

Two sisters became mothers and aunts at the same time Thursday when they gave birth within an hour of each other at Northridge Hospital Medical Center.

The weary women cuddled their newborns in the patients’ lounge on the hospital’s labor and delivery floor Friday and good-naturedly answered reporters’ questions about the coincidental timing of the tiny cousins’ arrival.

Janet Perez, 21, entered the hospital at 5 a.m. Thursday, and soon after labor was induced. Her sister, Zenia Perez, 25, came by to visit her younger sibling and began to experience labor pains of her own.

“I was in pain, but I was worried about my sister,” said Janet, an Encino homemaker. At 5:43 p.m. that day, she gave birth to baby Nancy, who weighed in at 9 pounds, 5 ounces.

“I heard the baby crying and I knew it was her baby crying,” said Zenia, who was in labor in a room down the hall. An hour later, she gave birth to baby Manuel, who tipped the scales at an even 10 pounds.

“I never thought we would have the babies so close,” said Zenia, a nursing assistant from Van Nuys. “I feel so happy.”

Coincidentally, both women had Nov. 2 due dates.