Preemie twins defy odds in Scotland

Preemie twins, born in Scotland at 23 weeks, are home and “doing amazing” after an extended stay in hospital.

Orla was born at 23 weeks and two days, with Frankie following four days later. Before their discharge, Orla underwent three surgeries, the first just ten days after her birth.

Parents Jack and Amy were told the twins had a less than ten per cent chance of survival. When Orla developed a bowel infection, the parents were offered palliative care for her, but Orla “proved everybody wrong, every hurdle, she never let up”.

Feisty and sweet

The pregnancy was progressing normally until just past 20 weeks when signs of labour started. Orla was born a couple of weeks later at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh. Jack said: “She was the size of my hand. She was basically the size of a mango with small arms and legs. I would say she was tiny. Her hands were the size of my fingernail.”

Her brother was delivered a few days later, as he was at risk of infection from his sister’s placenta. Jack explained: “Frankie didn’t seem much bigger. Still the size of my hand. I would say pictures don’t do the size justice”.

He added, “Orla is a little boss lady. She’s a bit crazy and feisty”, and Frankie “is just a sweet little mummy’s boy, loves a chat and a cuddle. Even before their due date we could see their little personalities”.

Record high

In the UK, abortion is available for most reasons up to 24 weeks, the age at which babies are deemed to be ‘viable’ outside the womb.

Recent figures from Public Health Scotland reveal that the total number of abortions has risen to a record high. There were 18,783 abortions in 2025, breaking the previous year’s record of 18,717.

The figures come after the Scottish Government’s Abortion Law Review Expert Group called for abortion to be allowed beyond 24 weeks gestation for almost any reason.

The Christian Institute’s Joanna Timm highlighted the “reckless” nature of the recommendations: “The review calls for repeal of many of the remaining safeguards that protect vulnerable women and their unborn babies, opening the door to more coercion of women, and to abortion on demand up to birth.”