Alexia Coleman had a detailed birth plan for her second delivery, but Harvey and Henry had plans of their own when the identical twins were born at Methodist Midlothian Medical Center.
Before learning they were having twins, Alexia and her husband, Austin, sought out a hospital closer to their Ennis home. They also wanted to feel connected to all the decisions made throughout her pregnancy and the birth.
So they asked around: Where is the best place in the area to have a baby?
“Most of the responses — 99 percent — were for Methodist Midlothian,” says Austin, who had posed the question on Facebook.
They couldn’t be happier with their decision.
“They respect and listen to you,” Alexia says. “If I get pregnant again, I’m going to Methodist again.”
SURPRISE TWINS
For their first appointment, Alexia was referred to Jason Brown, MD, OB-GYN on the medical staff at Methodist Midlothian.
She told Dr. Brown that Austin is a twin. The father’s genes don’t influence multiple births, he told her, and twins did not run on her side of the family.
That changed when Dr. Brown put the ultrasound on Alexia’s belly.
“Immediately, we saw two babies,” she says. “My husband was speechless. I was speechless. Dr. Brown was speechless. We all stared at the screen.”
Being pregnant with twins would mean Alexia would be more closely monitored.
“The care Dr. Brown and his staff provided was wonderful,” Alexia says. “He was very respectful and listened to my needs and wants.”
BIRTH PLAN
At her 36-week appointment, Alexia brought Dr. Brown a detailed birth plan, right down to the music she wanted playing. She also didn’t want an epidural or to deliver by cesarean section.
“Her birth plan was very much set,” Dr. Brown says. “We reviewed it as a staff and respected what she wanted to have done. Our nurses are very patient with that, which is one of the luxuries of a smaller hospital and staff. We’re not trying to rush anybody through.”
Dr. Brown explained that a C-section might be necessary because one of her babies was breech, positioned with his head facing upward.
“I said we’d cross that bridge when we came to it,” Alexia says. “I said if the babies are healthy and I’m healthy, I want a vaginal delivery. He said OK.”
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BREECH BABY
The average gestation for twins is 36 weeks, but Alexis was showing no signs of labor at 39 weeks. At her next appointment, Dr. Brown told the Colemans he’d be leaving the following weekend, so he recommended inducing labor, even though that wasn’t in her original birth plan.
On April 24, 2025, she and Austin checked her into Methodist Midlothian, and Alexia received a small amount of Pitocin to put her into labor. The next morning, Dr. Brown broke her water. As the pain intensified, a nurse asked Alexia if she would like an epidural.
But the babies wouldn’t wait, so Alexia delivered without medication, as she had wanted from the beginning. Her other wish — vaginal deliveries — was also granted when the first twin, Henry, made his appearance at 12:46 p.m.
Five minutes later, Harvey was born silent and limp. Alexia watched as a nurse spoke quietly to her husband, reassuring him that little Harvey would be OK.
“Finally, he started crying,” Alexia says. “I’d been staring at Dr. Brown, who was so calm. He gave me such a sense of peace.”
FELT ‘AT HOME’
Dr. Brown explained that Harvey was quieter than his brother because he needed to be maneuvered to get him into the right position for delivery. That can leave a breech baby temporarily stunned.
“The births were perfect,” he says. “Honestly, I was a little worried about how nervous Alexia would be, but she was calm and unfazed and did exactly what we asked her to do.”
Within 24 hours, the Coleman family headed home with their babies and the twins’ big brother, Dawson. Several months later, life is chaotic but good, and the couple’s memories of Methodist Midlothian remain close to their hearts.
“It felt comfortable and safe,” Alexia says. “Everyone just made us feel so at home, like we didn’t have to question anything or worry about anything.”
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