Six sets of twins make history

Bringing baby home from the hospital was twice the fun for six moms who gave birth at Verdugo Hills Hospital last month.

Six sets of twins were born at Verdugo in July, a record for the hospital, which had its former record setting event 20 years ago when five sets of twins were born in a one-month period, according to information provided by Celine Petrossian, Verdugo Hills Hospital spokeswoman.

“We were very excited to welcome six sets of twins into the world during the month of July, especially given the size of our community hospital and our average of one or two sets of twins per month,” said Sandi Davis, clinical director of perinatal services at Verdugo Hills Hospital.

Verdugo Hills Hospital is a 158-bed, non-profit primary care facility, known for its excellent staff and convenient proximity to La Cañada and the Foothill community.

The experience of giving birth to twins at Verdugo Hills was “very special,” said Anet Boyajian, 32, the proud new mom of twins Jacques and Milana.

The Boyajian twins were born at 1:14 and 1:16 p.m., July 16, their parents’ eighth wedding anniversary. Jacques weighed in at 5.11 pounds, and his sister, Milana weighed 6.75 pounds.

Anet Boyajian and her husband, Vahe have lived in Glendale since 1988. She previously worked in retail and he is an electrical engineer. The couple is Armenian. Anet immigrated from Iran and Vahe from Iraq.

The couple wanted to have a child for a few years before they decided to try in vitro fertilization. They’d gone through a miscarriage previously, Anet Boyajian said.

Learning they were expecting twins was “exciting, but frightening,” she added.

Adding to her fears, the couple was told early on not to tell people she was expecting twins, since “baby A” wasn’t growing like his sister and could be a “vanishing twin,’ which, doctors told her, meant he wouldn’t survive. Despite this, Jacques took on the challenge and began to grow, surprising his doctors, Anet Boyajian said.

Jacques and Milana were delivered through a cesarean section at eight months.

The family is pleased with the care they received at Verdugo Hills Hospital. “The nurses are excellent. I’m very happy with their service,” Anet Boyajian said.

New parents Anahid and Harout Torosyan also are singing the praises of the hospital and its staff. The Torosyan twins – Arman and Alex – were born two days after the Boyajian twins. Four-pound Arman was born at 4:23 p.m., July 18, and Alex was born at 4:24 and weighed 4 pounds, nine ounces.

Anahid Torosyan said she was especially pleased with the nursing staff at the hospital.

“It is a very caring hospital and a very nice facility,” she said.

Names and information on the other four sets of twins was not available; however, all of the babies and their moms are doing fine, Davis said.