Mum of the UK’s most premature twins says they are going “strength to strength”
- 10 months ago
The mum of the UK’s most premature twins says they are going “strength to strength” a year after coming home from hospital.
Harley and Harry Crane were given zero per cent chance of survival when they were born at 22 weeks and five days – more than a week before the usual abortion limit.
But the tough siblings beat the odds and came home after 140 days in the NICU.
Now 17-months-old, the IVF pair are happy and healthy at home.
A year after leaving hospital mum Jade Crane, 41, finally no longer feels “scared” and knows her miracle babies are “staying here”.
Harley, who was born a tiny 500g, is now a “crazy” 24lbs, and is standing up.
Her brother Harry was born weighing 520g and has now reached 20lbs and is a little behind developmentally but is “trying to crawl around”.
Parents Jade and Steve, 53, who works in sales, couldn’t be prouder of their twins and are "looking forward" to their future.
Jade, a former mental health nurse and addiction counsellor, from Derby said: “We are so blessed and lucky to have them doing so well.
Jade and Steve had 11 years of treatment before two implanted embryos on their eighth cycle of IVF resulted in twins.
After leaking fluid, Jade went to Queens Medical Hospital, Nottingham, to get checked in October 2021.
An internal examination revealed she was experiencing a premature rupture of membranes - where the fetal membranes rupture before the onset of labour.
At 22 weeks pregnant, the mum feared the twins wouldn't survive.
She said: "They told me they were going to admit me but that I was probably having a miscarriage.
"The doctor kept saying it was a miscarriage but I said it couldn't be because I could feel the babies moving.
"I knew they were ok but was being told they wouldn't survive at this gestation."
The abortion law in the UK states that women can terminate a pregnancy up to 24 weeks in most cases - and doctors are not required to medically intervene before.
Luckily for Jade, the facility is a teaching hospital and doctors intervene with babies born 23 weeks and later, she said.
At the time of going into labour, on October 26, 2021, Jade was still 30 hours away from the 23 week mark - but doctors chose to intervene, she said.
Little Harley and Harry were intubated and taken to the NICU where they remained on ventilators.
The twins battled chronic lung disease, a serious gastrointestinal problem called necrotizing enterocolitis and underwent many surgeries.
Harley had to have a stoma bag fitted, which has since been removed, and Harry received injections in his eyes to help prevent premature blindness.
Harry came home in March 6 2022 and Harley joined him a week later.
Jade said: "I'm so proud of my babies - they're little fighters."
Harley and Harry Crane were given zero per cent chance of survival when they were born at 22 weeks and five days – more than a week before the usual abortion limit.
But the tough siblings beat the odds and came home after 140 days in the NICU.
Now 17-months-old, the IVF pair are happy and healthy at home.
A year after leaving hospital mum Jade Crane, 41, finally no longer feels “scared” and knows her miracle babies are “staying here”.
Harley, who was born a tiny 500g, is now a “crazy” 24lbs, and is standing up.
Her brother Harry was born weighing 520g and has now reached 20lbs and is a little behind developmentally but is “trying to crawl around”.
Parents Jade and Steve, 53, who works in sales, couldn’t be prouder of their twins and are "looking forward" to their future.
Jade, a former mental health nurse and addiction counsellor, from Derby said: “We are so blessed and lucky to have them doing so well.
Jade and Steve had 11 years of treatment before two implanted embryos on their eighth cycle of IVF resulted in twins.
After leaking fluid, Jade went to Queens Medical Hospital, Nottingham, to get checked in October 2021.
An internal examination revealed she was experiencing a premature rupture of membranes - where the fetal membranes rupture before the onset of labour.
At 22 weeks pregnant, the mum feared the twins wouldn't survive.
She said: "They told me they were going to admit me but that I was probably having a miscarriage.
"The doctor kept saying it was a miscarriage but I said it couldn't be because I could feel the babies moving.
"I knew they were ok but was being told they wouldn't survive at this gestation."
The abortion law in the UK states that women can terminate a pregnancy up to 24 weeks in most cases - and doctors are not required to medically intervene before.
Luckily for Jade, the facility is a teaching hospital and doctors intervene with babies born 23 weeks and later, she said.
At the time of going into labour, on October 26, 2021, Jade was still 30 hours away from the 23 week mark - but doctors chose to intervene, she said.
Little Harley and Harry were intubated and taken to the NICU where they remained on ventilators.
The twins battled chronic lung disease, a serious gastrointestinal problem called necrotizing enterocolitis and underwent many surgeries.
Harley had to have a stoma bag fitted, which has since been removed, and Harry received injections in his eyes to help prevent premature blindness.
Harry came home in March 6 2022 and Harley joined him a week later.
Jade said: "I'm so proud of my babies - they're little fighters."