Jessica Rotter, 35, was supporting her 17-year-old daughter as the teenager prepared to give birth at a northwest suburban hospital on Tuesday when she realized she had to leave the room.
She was having contractions of her own.
Both Rotter and her daughter, Briana Guerrero, gave birth at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village early Wednesday, delivering healthy boys in adjoining rooms, Rotter said.
Guerrero’s baby, Ayden, was born about six hours after his uncle, whom Rotter and her husband have not yet named.
“In 20 years of practicing, I’ve seen a lot,” said Dr. Alex Lipowich, who delivered both babies. “I’ve certainly had mothers and daughters pregnant at the same time or in the same year. But I have never delivered a mother and daughter combination on the same day, and I can’t believe that’s very common.”
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Doctors decided to induce Guerrero’s labor Monday night because her baby was so big — the 21-inch newborn weighed in at 9 pounds, 9 ounces.
Rotter, of Elgin, accompanied her daughter to the hospital. By Tuesday afternoon, however, she realized her baby was preparing to arrive, even though she wasn’t due to give birth for another two and half weeks.
Not wanting to alarm her daughter, she slipped out of the room and told Lipowich she was having contractions. Her baby was 7 pounds, 10 ounces and 20 inches long.
Guerrero “really wanted me there with her to help with her delivery and to coach her. But I couldn’t do that, so it was kind of upsetting,” Rotter said. “But everyone’s happy and healthy, and that’s all that matters.”
Ayden’s father, Jose Botello, also was at the hospital helping Guerrero.
Rotter said she’s proud of her daughter, who graduated early from Burlington Central High School this year. Rotter, who has four children, said she’s also glad she was able to help her daughter deal with her pregnancy.
“I was like the Internet,” Rotter said. “She kept asking me 20 million questions every single day.”