A first-time mother gave birth to twin boys two days apart after her labour stopped after her first child arrived.
Police constable Joanne Reilly, 32, of Swinton, Manchester, rushed to hospital when her waters broke at 24 weeks.
A few hours later, Joanne was in labour with her partner Anthony, 44, by her side.
Their eldest son, Dylan, arrived in the early hours of January 10, weighing just 1lb 10oz and needed to be resuscitated within minutes of his birth.
Joanne was preparing to push for her second son but ‘nothing happened’. She was told to remain on strict bed rest in a bid to delay the birth of the second baby and boost his chances of survival.
Baby Oscar arrived on January 12, weighing 2lbs.
Police officer Joanne Reilly, 32, from Swinton, Manchester, gave birth to premature twins but the boys were born two days apart
Joanne was shocked when her waters broke after just 24 weeks of pregnancy, 16 weeks short of a normal full term. The twins were put into a cot with one another for the first time after three months in intensive care
Joanne 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.
‘It was so strange as I was focusing on him but also bracing myself to push again but hours passed and nothing happened.
‘Time passed but nothing happened and the doctor said I have to stay on strict bed rest to try and keep the other baby in for as long as possible.
Joanne said Dylan was in a ‘poor state’ when he was born and needed to be resuscitated for 30 minutes. She added, ‘we almost lost him which was very traumatic. Pictured: The baby at just five days old
Medics at St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester had initially hoped the mother would be able to carry Oscar to full term as he was in his own amniotic sac and able to survive alone. Pictured: Oscar at three days old
Joanne said Oscar’s two extra days in her womb did him ‘the world of good’ because he was born without any health complications
‘I was shocked as I didn’t know know that was possible. In a way, I just wanted Oscar to come too as it felt weird having one but not the other.’
Medics at St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester had initially hoped the mother would be able to carry Oscar to full term as he was in his own amniotic sac and able to survive alone.
Joanne was unable to visit Dylan in her hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) but was given an iPad to watch him in the incubator.
Oscar was then born two days later at 10:39am at 25 weeks.
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 rushed to hospital with her partner Anthony, 44, shortly after her waters broke. Pictured: The couple with Dylan and Oscar
Now, 19 months on, Dylan (left) and Oscar are thriving and have an unbreakable brotherly bond
Joanne described her sons 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.
Joanne said, ‘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’
Joanne had initially worried the brothers may not form a special bond having spent so much time apart
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.’
Joanne described her sons as ‘delicate and poorly’ when she first held them after two weeks
Joanne said her sons are ‘very much aware’ that they are twins. Pictured: The family during a day out