This magical picture shows a premature baby girl who doctors believed ‘would not make it’ sharing an adorable cuddle with her twin brother after they were separated at birth.
Mum Laura Hough, 27, said seeing her twins holding hands for the first time after they were finally reunited two weeks later left her in tears and ‘filled with love’.
Doctors told Laura that baby Neve would likely not survive the pregnancy as she was not getting enough nutrients in the womb due to her placenta deteriorating.
The first-time mum said that thinking about potentially losing her baby girl was ‘terrifying’ and all she could do was think about whether they were going to be okay.
She had two checks each week before she had to have an emergency caesarean section on March 8 when she was 30 weeks pregnant.
Louie was born at 2.12pm and his little sister was born just two minutes later in a separate sac at Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
Incredibly, Neve was healthy and was able to breathe on her own, but weighed just 1lbs 7oz – the size of a small doll – while Louie weighed just over 3lbs.
Louie’s lung had collapsed during the premature birth, and he had to have treatment to drain the air out.
Doctors made the decision to separate the twins as soon as they were born so they could receive treatment.
But two weeks on, the twins have finally been allowed to stay in the same incubator and shared an adorable cuddle.
Laura, from Liverpool, Merseyside, said: “It was the best day of my life, I’m just made up with them.
“To go from fearing that Neve wouldn’t make it to seeing them both cuddling and holding hands – there are no words.
“When they told me that Neve wasn’t going to make it, I couldn’t think straight.
“It was so difficult and so scary because I was so excited to meet them but I was so worried if they were going to be okay.
“When they were born it was a massive relief, I couldn’t have been happier.”
Laura and partner Chris Carey, 33, said it was an ‘incredibly emotional’ day when they were finally able to hold them both.
Laura, who has been with Chris for two years, said she couldn’t wait to be a mum and was ‘shocked’ when she was told she was going to have twins.
The sales assistant said: “Holding them both was just great, because it was hard when they were separated as they were in different rooms.
“When we were told they could be in the same incubator, watching them cuddle and holding hands it was so emotional.
“I can’t wait to bring them home.
“It’s still surreal to me to say I’m a mum of two. But I am and it’s incredible.”
The babies will remain under observation at the hospital until Laura’s due date in May, but Laura said their home is already ready and painted.
The jubilant couple have thanked hospital staff who have been ‘absolutely brilliant’.
