SIS SURVIVED The baby who saved her twin’s life.. inside the womb

ALL twins have a special bond but little darlings Elsie and Edie have the ultimate connection after one saved the other in the womb.

The tots were born after a perilous journey that pushed their parents to the emotional limits.

Doctors advised Emily Murphy, 21, and her partner to terminate one of the twins, Edie, after spotting a rare problem in her pregnancy.

But the couple refused – and Elsie would go on to guarantee Edie survived by effectively feeding her in the womb.

The case has been billed as “remarkable” by a leading British fertility expert.

Professor Charles Kingsland, professor of reproductive medicine and director of Care Fertility UK, said: “This twin has been incredibly lucky to survive.”

Emily, who lives in Middlesbrough with teacher partner Bailey Ramrekna, 22, said: “If it wasn’t for Elsie, we wouldn’t have Edie now. It was only having her sister with her that saved her life.

“We feel so lucky to have them both. Elsie still looks after Edie now – and it’s a role that began in the womb, long before they were born.”

The couple were thrilled when they found out Emily was expecting identical twins. However, when she was 16 weeks pregnant, doctors had devastating news.

Edie’s umbilical cord was only slightly inserted into the end of the placenta, meaning there was a high chance she would die in the womb because she wasn’t getting enough nutrients.

Emily said: “It was such a shock when the doctors told us what was wrong.

“We had been so thrilled when we found out I was having twins, so to be told now that Edie may not make it was devastating.”

SERIOUS

The condition is called Vasa Previa. It means the umbilical cord has only a tenuous link with the placenta.

If Emily had fallen pregnant with just Edie then the baby wouldn’t have survived.

After raising the alert, doctors gave the couple a heartrendingly difficult choice. Emily said: “They told us we could sever Edie’s cord and sacrifice her to save Elsie.

“It would give her a better chance of survival – because if Edie died, then Elsie’s life would then be at risk too.

“We said definitely not. I just wanted to let nature take its course.

“I wasn’t prepared to sacrifice one of