Dylan and Oscar Reilly are twins – but their birthdays are two days apart.
Mum Joanne, 32, went into labour at 24 weeks but after Dylan was born on 10 January 2019, everything stopped and Oscar wasn’t born until 12 January.
Initially, medics had even suggested carrying Oscar to full term as he was in his own sac and able to survive alone, but he was eager to join his brother
The police officer, from Swinton, Manchester, said: ‘I had a lovely pregnancy and I was enjoying every second as everything was running smoothly with no cravings and barely any sickness.
‘I had a scan a week before my waters broke and everything was fine so I was very confused and panicked when my waters had broke at 24 weeks and five days.
‘I went straight to St.Mary’s Hospital with my partner Anthony, 44, and a few hours later – I was in labour.
‘Dylan was born at 4.43am but he was in a poor state and needed resuscitating for 30 minutes.
‘We almost lost him which was very traumatic.’
Joanne was focusing on Dylan as well preparing to start pushing again to welcome his brother – but hours later, nothing had happened.
She adds: ‘The doctor said I have to stay on strict bed rest to try and keep the other baby in for as long as possible.
‘I was shocked as I didn’t know that was possible. In a way, I just wanted Oscar to come too as it felt weird having one but not the other.’
Dylan weighed just 1lb 10oz, and was taken to neonatal intensive care. His mum couldn’t visit him but was given an iPad to watch him in the incubator.
And just two days later, Oscar was born, weighing 2lb, at 10:39am.
Joanne said: ‘I really wanted to see Dylan but I knew I had to follow the doctors orders to do what is best for Oscar.
‘Every hour counted towards his development so it was vital for me to stay on bed rest to ensure he was given the best chance.
‘Fortunately, he was born without any health complications.
‘We always say the extra two days did Oscar the world of good as he had zero complications and was taken off the ventilation first.’
Joanne described them as ‘delicate and poorly’ when she first held them after two weeks.
The twins were put into a cot with one another for the first time after three months in NICU.
Joanne worried they may not form a special bond having spent so much time apart.
But now, 19 months on, they are thriving and have an unbreakable brotherly bond.
She said: ‘We are very fortunate to have had premature babies who had no health complications.
‘But in NICU you can’t help but feel lonely, like you are the only one going through the worry and stress.
‘It is horrible seeing your tiny baby in an incubator and there is nothing you can do.
‘I had nothing to worry about in terms of their bond as they are very much aware that they are twins – they can’t settle without one another.
‘If one leaves the room, then the other will cry. They also love to annoy one another.’
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/08/23/twins-born-two-days-apart-13166118/
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