By Emily Stonehouse

It was a New Year’s Day unlike any other for Ilona and Brandon Sutcliffe, when the Wilberforce-based couple welcomed not only their second child, but their third as well. 

“Twins don’t run in the family,” said Brandon, “so this was a surprise for everyone.” 

At 36.5 weeks pregnant, Ilona delivered fraternal twin girls on the morning of Jan. 1, at their cozy home in Highlands East. Ildiko was born first, with Milania following suit two hours later. Both girls weighed in at just over five pounds after a fast labour on the first day of the year. 

“We knew we wanted a home birth,” said Ilona, noting that she had a very positive experience with their first daughter, Ava, two years ago. “I like to take a natural approach to life.” 

But while it was their preference to deliver the twins at home with the assistance of the Haliburton Midwives for support, Ilona noted that they would not have even had time to drive to the hospital if they had wanted to. “It all happened so fast,” she laughed, “I would have been delivering them on the side of the road.” 

While the twins weren’t due to arrive for another few weeks, the early and quick delivery makes the girls the first recorded babies of 2025 in Haliburton County according to the midwives. 

While they arrived early, both girls are healthy, and Ilona is already feeling relief from carrying them for the majority of a full-term pregnancy. “That last month was very uncomfortable,” she shared, “so I am so happy they’re here, and I am starting to feel normal again.” 

Ilona shared that all three of her daughters have Hungarian names, as a tribute to her heritage and her family. 

As we wrapped up the quiet conversation and the birth story, Ava and Brandon were in their kitchen, making pizza together for a family dinner. “We always wanted a big family,” said Ilona as she watched them in the kitchen, with a twin in each arm as she soothed them to sleep. “So we are so happy.”