Jesy Nelson opens up on life saving surgery with miracle twins in emotional This Morning interview

Daily Record

6 days ago

This Morning welcomed Jesy Nelson and her partner Zion on to the show with their identical twin daughters who were born 31 weeks premature following a high risk surgery to save their lives.
Jesy Nelson has appeared on This Morning in her first public appearance with her baby twin daughters Ocean Jade Nelson-Foster and Story Monroe Nelson-Foster to speak about her life threatening pregnancy and birth. The ex Little Mix star and her partner, Zion, welcomed their two baby girls on May 15 this year, who were born 31 weeks premature, after a highly complicated pregnancy.
‌
They both appeared on Wednesday afternoon's instalment of the ITV show alongside hosts Alison Hammond and Ben Shephard to chat about their terrifying journey to parenthood in an attempt to raise awareness about the complications of identical twin pregnancies. With Jesy holding Ocean Jade, and Story Munroe in Zion's arms, the singer could be seen wearing an adorable necklace with the names of both of her daughters on it, who are just 69 days old.
‌
Little Ocean Jade and Story Munroe are a rare form of identical twins known as monochorionic-diamniotic (mono/di) twins. This means they share a single placenta which can lead to problems due to an unequal blood flow and nutrient distribution between the two babies.
‌
This specific type of twin pregnancy is associated with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). Jesy unfortunately developed this condition while she was in the early stages of her pregnancy.
In a throwback clip played on the ITV show, Jesy was seen telling the camera: "I am currently pre stage TTTS which is twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. Every time I've gone it's gotten a little better worse. It could lead to both babies dying. it's just really sad that unfortunately it does come with its complications which we had no idea about."
‌
The singer, 34, explained that they only became aware of the serious issues that can occur with mono/di twins after she received her scan.
She said: "I couldn't believe the percentages and what could potentially happen to them. I almost felt like from the point I couldn't really enjoy my pregnancy because I was just constantly worried that something was going to happen. The doctors told us they take it like two weeks at a time.
"We didn't even want to announce it. I actually had a threatened miscarriage as well so I was like I don't even want to announce it."
‌
Jesy, who kept fans well updated with her pregnancy after they did announce it, uploaded a follow up clip where she said: "Unfortunately the symptoms have got worse and we had to perform the procedure. It's necessary because it's going to give our babies the best chance of surviving.
"Just hoping and praying for the best really."
‌
Jesy went from pre TTTS to needing an emergency procedure to save her babies overnight after receiving weekly scans since she first fell pregnant.
She said she knew something was wrong when she and Zion both noticed her stomach had become very tight - a known symptom of TTTS.
The high risk procedure involved putting a telescope into the wound and identifying the blood vessels that are creating the uneven flow of blood. They are then burned away with a laser, leaving the baby with their own part of the placenta and an equal flow of blood between the two.
‌
Jesy spent more than two weeks in hospital after undergoing the high risk procedure.
Recalling the emotions they went through at the time, dad Zion admitted he felt 'hopeless' but 'remained positive' for Jesy and their girls.
Dr Ruwan Wimalasundera performed the procedure on Jesy and was branded a 'hero' by the singer as he joined the new parents on the show to explain more about the condition.
‌
He told Ben and Alison: "Monochorionic identical twins share a single placenta and even though each baby has its own part of that placenta, there are blood vessels that join the two together so in effect they share a single circulation which does mean more complications such as TTTS and anything that happens to one baby has a direct impact on the other baby.
"Twin to twin occurs in about 15% so about one in six of these pregnancies."
‌
He continued: "It's related to the blood vessels that join the two parts of the blood circulation together. Normally they allow blood to flow in both directions so its an equal flow of blood but when you develop twin to twin, there's an unequal flow of blood so one baby is getting just too little blood.
"It doesn't grow as well, it doesn't produce much urine and can become severely anaemic.
"While the opposite is happening to the other baby, who is getting too much blood flow and can go into heart failure so when it becomes significant without us doing anything, unfortunately it's got a very high chance of miscarriage."
‌
Symptoms of TTTS can include shortness of breath, a tight abdomen and increased thirst with Jesy revealing she had experienced all of them.
Fortunately, the procedure worked and Jesy and Zion welcomed their daughters ten weeks later on May 15.
‌
The parents have now been working to raise awareness on the condition after they themselves had no clue about it before it happened to them
Zion recently completed the London Marathon for the Twins Trust while a proud Jesy facetimed him from her hospital bed.
Dr Ruwan has reassured expectant mothers with identical twins that TTTS only occurs in about one in six pregnancies.
When Ben asked him if he had any advice for any parents in the same situation as Jesy and Zion, he said: "There are plenty of charities and websites that you can look at. There is help out there and there are things we can do to help, even in very complex and difficult situations to get an outcome like this one."