The premature twins born 16 days apart: Three-year-old sisters Alessia and Lara stunned doctors with separate births Twin sisters Alessia and Lara Deleo were born more than two weeks apart Alessia was born naturally 26 weeks premature on February 2, 2010 Her sister Lara was delivered by C-section 23 weeks premature on Feb 16 They are officially classed as twins, but three-year-old Alessia and her sister Lara Deleo do not share the same birthday. Instead of being born minutes or even hours apart, the sisters entered the world 16 days apart - a feat obstetricians say is incredibly rare. Parents Linda and Nick Deleo, both 38, had no idea there would be any delay with the birth of their twins girls. Twin girls born 16 days apart: Mother Linda Deleo pictured with her twins Lara, left, and Alessia, right Rare: Alessia, right, was born 26 weeks prematurely while her sister Lara was born 23 weeks prematurely But when they went to the Women and Children's Hospital in February, 2010, they were told there would be more than two weeks between the births of their daughters. Alessia was born 26 weeks prematurely while her sister Lara followed 16 days later to be born 23 weeks prematurely. 'My waters leaked and broke with Alessia first but they just stayed intact with Lara and the labour stopped,' Mrs Deleo said. The doctors decided the main aim was to keep Lara in there as long as possible to help her grow. Waiting game: Alessia, right, was born on February 2 but Lara, centre, stayed in tact in the womb and wasn't delivered until February 18 by caesarean Family picture: Linda and Nick Deleo pictured with their children Carlo, Lara, Alessia and Serafino 'I stayed in hospital the entire time and got steroid injections to help the baby's lungs get stronger. The doctors did seem surprised it went on for so long and in the end I had a caesarean. Alessia was born on February 2 and spent 15 weeks in hospital while Lara arrived on February 18 and spent 13 weeks in hospital - meaning the pair could go home together. To cope with having two birthdays in such close proximity, they Deleo family holds a big party in between the two while the girls each have their own smaller celebration on the actual day of their birth. Joint celebration: The two sisters share a big party in between their birthdays and have their own smaller celebration on their actual birth dates Two of a kind: The sisters are still classed as twins despite having birthdays more than two weeks apart