When AFL WAG Annie Nolan first saw her twin daughters she thought they more closely resembled little pink jelly beans than the babies she had expected – after arriving 13 weeks early.
The young girls, Cheska and Delphi, are now a popular part of their blogger mum’s online presence – often snapped posing for the camera, covered in glitter and wearing broad smiles.
But the mother has revealed the first few weeks of their life were far less carefree – as she works to raise awareness for premature births.
Annie Nolan’s two twin daughters (far left and far right) who were born 13 weeks early
Cheska, two weeks old, with her mother’s engagement ring half way up her arm (pictured)
Delphi’s (pictured) mother revealed the first few weeks of their life was far less carefree – as she works to raise awareness for premature births
Now alongside Cheska (right) and Delphi (left), Nolan works hard raising awareness for premature births
The mother spoke to the Herald Sun about those emotional few weeks in hospital and the terrifying moment she knew her babies were coming early.
‘I remember thinking, ‘I’m not meant to see this. They’re not supposed to be out yet’,’ she said. ‘It was like opening the pouch of a kangaroo and looking in at the pink jelly beans.’
Ms Nolan was at home with her one-year-old son when she started feeling the early contractions. Her partner Western Bulldogs utility Liam Picken was interstate – so she called out to a neighbour for help.
‘My body was trying to go into labour,’ Nolan says.
Stacks away! Nolan wasn’t allowed to hold Cheska’s until she was three-weeks-old and Delphi until she was six-weeks-old
‘It was like opening the pouch of a kangaroo and looking in at the pink jelly beans,’ Nolan said
Delphi was born first and weighed in at 900grams her sister had to be delivered by an emergency c-section and weighed just 700grams
‘They gave me steroid injections to help the babies’ lungs mature and I was put on bed rest. By bed rest I mean I had to pee in a bed pan. They wouldn’t let me move.’
The twins stayed inside for a week – growing bigger and stronger every day.
Delphi was born first and weighed in at 900grams her sister had to be delivered by an emergency c-section and weighed just 700grams.
They didn’t cry, instead they were raced into the Neonatal intensive care unit where they could be watched by doctors around the clock.’
‘You just have to trust that they’re in safe hands. You just have to hope that you’ll be the lucky ones,’ Nolan said
‘They didn’t cry, instead they were raced into the Neonatal intensive care unit where they could be watched by doctors around the clock,’ Nolan said
The mother was not allowed to hold her babies for weeks – with Cheska’s first cuddle coming three weeks after she was born. Her sister had to wait twice as long.
‘You can’t do much. You just have to trust that they’re in safe hands. You just have to hope that you’ll be the lucky ones,’ Picken said.
More than 300 babies are born at 27 weeks in Australia and New Zealand each year.
The mother will be participating in this year’s pram jam – where they will be raising awareness for the plight of premature babies and their families.
The mother (centre) will be participating in this year’s pram jam – where they will be raising awareness for the plight of premature babies and their families
‘The twins stayed inside for a week – growing bigger and stronger every day,’ Nolan said