Two friends who talked about becoming mothers at the same time were delighted to find out they were both expecting in 2024 – but they certainly couldn’t have predicted what would happen next.
Madison Knight, 28, and Jamesen Hicks, 26, of Dothan, Alabama were introduced to each other in 2020 and instantly became lifelong friends. Indeed, their husbands Luke Knight and Tyler Hicks also became buddies, and they’ve become an inseparable foursome.
Madison and Jamesen loved the idea of starting families at similar times, as Madison told Newsweek that it would be “so special to experience motherhood” together. Who better to share all the major milestones with, and they wanted to support each other through the wild ride.
“The idea of it felt like a dream that might never come true, so when it actually did, it was truly surreal,” Madison said.
Madison learned that she was pregnant in July 2024, and of course Jamesen was one of the first people she told. To their amazement, Jamesen learned that she was also expecting in October 2024 – any guesses who she called first?
But as it turned out, there were even more surprises in store.
During her first ultrasound scan, Madison learned that she was having twins, which she says deep down she had “known all along.” Immediately after the appointment, she and her husband rushed to tell Jamesen the exciting news.
Months later, Jamesen learned that she too wasn’t just pregnant with one – but rather, triplets.
“I fully believed that I was only having one baby,” Jamesen told Newsweek. “In fact, the night before my first ultrasound I was on the phone with Madison and I bet her my next paycheck that it was just one baby. When the ultrasound technologist found three babies, I was absolutely speechless.”
As soon as Madison heard the news, she couldn’t help but cry happy tears. Not only were they pregnant simultaneously, but they would soon have five children between them.
The best friends were able to support each other through every step of their pregnancies, from decorating the nurseries, signing up for registries and picking baby names.
But their pregnancies weren’t without complications. Jamesen’s was considered high risk and there were concerns for the health of one of her triplets. While Madison developed preeclampsia and had to deliver her twins at 32 weeks.
All five children had to spend time in the NICU for several weeks, which was incredibly difficult for the new parents. But thankfully, they helped each other through.
Madison said: “Jamesen was one of the few people approved to visit the NICU with me. She would come and sit with me and my babies, offering quiet support when I needed it most. That period was incredibly isolating. Leaving my babies in the NICU each night and coming home without them broke my heart.
“Even when Jamesen and I couldn’t be face to face, we never stopped being each other’s support system. I knew I could always call her, and she would do the same. That bond and understanding helped carry both of us through some of the toughest days,” she continued.
Jamesen doesn’t believe she could have made it through that testing time without Madison by her side.
Now, the new moms and their five babies meet up daily to talk, laugh, and support one another. Madison’s twins, Barrett and Sutton are 9 months old, while Jamesen’s triplets, Campbell, Bennett, and Graham, are 6 months old.
Madison says it’s a “beautiful kind of chaos” whenever the families are together and the babies get to bond.
“Having your best friend go through the exact same things that you are, has been so special,” Jamesen told Newsweek. “Having all our kids together is such a surreal feeling. We constantly bounce situations and ideas off each other. Her kids being a little older than the triplets has helped a lot too as I can have an idea of what is coming next for the boys.
She continued: “It can be a little chaotic, but our husbands are truly the best dads. We all love each other’s kids, and it really is all hands on deck. We will lay them all down on a playmat together and just listen to them babble at each other for hours.”
Madison has documented this once in a lifetime experience on social media (@madisongraceknight) and her posts have gone viral. This unexpected journey has stunned the internet, leading to millions of views across her TikTok posts.
Both Madison and Jamesen are incredibly grateful for all the support and joy they’ve received online. Adjusting to motherhood hasn’t been easy, but they have been inundated with encouraging messages from people around the world, which they never anticipated.
Their lives were transformed in the last year, but Madison said that it’s also been “the most rewarding time” for them both.
“I can’t imagine my life any different without our five little blessings. I feel so lucky to experience motherhood with my best friend, and I can’t wait to watch our babies grow up together,” Madison said.
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