A twin who was due to be medically terminated to save his brother’s life made a surprise arrival in the loo.
Corinne Rose, 30, had to scoop Grayson and Neo Cattanach out of the toilet after going into labour at 32 weeks along.
Neo, who had been given little chance of survival after his amniotic sack burst early, weighed just 2lb 14oz.
The day the twins were born, Corinne was due to have Neo terminated, to improve his brother’s chances. But he defied the odds and has joined the rest of the family at home, after 13 weeks in hospital.
Corinne said: “I think it was his big bro, Grayson, bringing him into the world.
“He was like, ‘not today – Neo is coming out with me.’ The poor kid has been through the wringer but he’s such a fighter.”
Corinne had feared she wouldn’t be able to have children due to past health problems. But she was delighted to learn that she and her music producer partner Will Cattanach, 32, had conceived twins.
However, when Corinne was 14 weeks along, a scan revealed her waters had broken, meaning Neo was losing fluid vital for healthy foetal development. His lungs weren’t functioning properly and his liver was growing in his chest cavity.
Doctors broke the news to Corinne and Will that their baby was unlikely to survive.
Corinne explained: “We weighed up all the options and decided that a medical termination was the best course of action. Also, it was the best thing for his twin, Grayson, who wasn’t getting nutrients or developing as well because of him.”
Corinne, from Southampton, was booked in for a medical termination on January 19.
That day, she woke at 2.30am with terrible cramps. She dashed to the bathroom, where she felt the urge to push and realised she was in labour.
Corinne said: “Grayson was born first, and he came headfirst into the toilet. I scooped him up and five minutes later, his brother came flying out. It was mad – I had a baby in each hand.”
Corrine and the two boys were rushed to Princess Ann Hospital, in Southampton.
She said: “Neo was placed on my chest in the ambulance, I thought he would just drift off to sleep. But he was moving and squeaking, and trying to open his eyes.”
Grayson, who weighed 4lb 6oz, had a blood transfusion and spent three weeks in hospital. And despite the odds against him, Neo began to make progress.
Corinne said: “Neo needs a breathing machine and high flow oxygen.
“But his liver flipped back to where it’s supposed to be. Apart from his lung development, he’s a happy little boy.
“Grayson is doing well, too. I still can’t believe they’re both here together.”
