Singer Jesy Nelson recently shared an emotional update regarding the complications she is experiencing in her pregnancy with twin babies. Former Little Mix singer Jesy, who is having twins with partner Zion Foster, announced that she has been diagnosed with pre-twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (pre-TTTS). The condition, which is present in pregnancies involving twins with a shared placenta, has serious risks involved and needs intense medical supervision. As Nelson embarks on this difficult journey, her story enlightens us about a rare but dangerous condition many expectant parents may not know much about.

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome is a rare but dangerous condition that arises in monochorionic twin pregnancies, in which identical twins share a single placenta. The placenta supplies the developing babies with oxygen, nutrients, and blood flow, but in TTTS, there is an imbalance of blood vessels that interconnect the twins, and thus the vital resources are not evenly distributed. One twin, or the donor twin, shares excess blood with the other, referred to as the recipient twin. This leads to one baby becoming malnourished and possibly anemic, and the other in danger of heart problems due to too much blood.

Nelson described her diagnosis in a heartfelt Instagram video, explaining that she is currently in the pre-stage of TTTS and undergoing frequent monitoring. "I am being scanned twice a week, and each time, things have gotten a little worse," she shared, expressing her fears and hopes for the health of her babies.

Potential Risks of TTTS

If left untreated, TTTS can have devastating consequences. Medical research indicates that:

• 90% of the cases of untreated TTTS lead to loss of one or both twins.
• Despite treatment, only a 70% survival rate for both twins is assured.
• Severe forms can result in preterm labor, cardiac failure in the recipient twin, and organ failure in the donor twin.
• Complications in long-term survivors include neurological damage and developmental delay in surviving infants.

TTTS usually advances in stages, beginning with minimal changes in fluid levels and worsening as one twin continues to get an unequal share of blood. In extreme cases, fetal laser surgery, referred to as the Solomon technique, can be employed to divide the blood vessels and balance the twins.

Why Identical Twin Pregnancies Are More Complicated

Identical twins may develop differently, and their own unique form of placental sharing can have a dramatic effect on pregnancy risk. Jesy Nelson's twins are considered monochorionic diamniotic (mono/di), which means they share a placenta but have two amniotic sacs. This is the type of pregnancy in about 70% of identical twin pregnancies and carries an increased risk of complications like TTTS, umbilical cord entanglement, and growth restriction.

Conversely, dichorionic diamniotic (di/di) twins both have a separate placenta and amniotic sac, which greatly diminishes the threat of TTTS. Twin pregnancy type is normally identified by early ultrasound, with physicians being able to track future complications from inception.

Other Twin Pregnancy Health Risks

Twin pregnancies, even without the presence of TTTS, entail a variety of health risks to the mother as well as infants:

1. Premature Birth

Over 60% of twin pregnancies end in premature delivery, with birth usually taking place before 37 weeks. Premature infants can have immature organs and need neonatal intensive care (NICU) assistance to assist with breathing, feeding, and infection fighting.

2. Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia

Pregnant women with multiples are at increased risk of having high blood pressure during pregnancy. This, if left untreated, can result in preeclampsia, a serious complication of pregnancy that can result in damage to organs, preterm labor, and in some cases, maternal or fetal death.

3. Anemia

Pregnant women carrying multiples are twice as likely to experience anemia, a condition where the body does not produce enough healthy red blood cells. This can lead to fatigue, dizziness, and complications during delivery.

4. Birth Defects

According to John Hopkins Medicine, multiple birth babies are twice as likely to have congenital abnormalities compared to single births. These can include heart defects, neural tube defects, and gastrointestinal issues.

5. Amniotic Fluid Imbalances

When twins have to share a placenta, they are more likely to have polyhydramnios (excess amniotic fluid) or oligohydramnios (not enough amniotic fluid). Both result in distress to the babies during fetal development and can result in premature labor.

6. Postpartum Hemorrhage

Twins are at increased risk of excessive postpartum hemorrhage because their uterus is larger and there are greater blood supply needs.

Jesy Nelson's openness about her challenging experience is raising awareness for TTTS, a condition that few individuals—let alone expectant mothers and fathers—might be aware of. Through her tearful video, Nelson stressed the significance of knowing about twin pregnancies aside from the thrill of having multiples. "We had no idea that this type of thing occurs when you're having twins. We just desperately want to make people aware of this because there are so many people who aren't aware."

Her case reminds us of the intricacies involved in twin pregnancy and the significance of early identification and medical management. For mothers carrying twins, frequent ultrasounds and vigilance can become a life-and-death issue for early detection and better outcomes of both babies.

Through constant medical attention and care, she and her partner Zion Foster remain positive and get ready for their babies to be born. In other parents whose situations are no different, the story of Nelson highlights awareness, medical progress, and emotional encouragement in handling complicated pregnancies.

The expecting parents of twin siblings are advised to discuss TTTS screening and possible interventions with their physicians to give their babies the best chance.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering easing restrictions on certain peptides, potentially allowing specialty pharmacies to produce injections not approved for medical use, raising safety concerns.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has submitted an interim access policy for peptides to the White House for review, according to a government website posting on Thursday. The proposal was sent to the Office of Management and Budget, the Associated Press reported.

The list of peptides includes BPC-157, an unapproved peptide promoted online for pain relief, healing and performance enhancement, has gained popularity among wellness influencers and followers of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. A recent study found that its use increased 33-fold between 2020 and 2026.

What Is The FDA Planning?

Also read: RFK Jr-Backed ‘Wolverine’ Peptide Use Surges: Why Are People Taking An Unapproved Drug For Injury Recovery?

The proposal could allow compounding pharmacies to produce certain peptides, including BPC-157, according to AP, citing two people familiar with the matter

The policy would reportedly give pharmacies greater assurance that they would not face enforcement action for producing these substances.

Formally permitting peptides for compounding would require federal rulemaking, a process that could take years. It remains unclear whether the administration intends to pursue that route.

In July, an FDA advisory committee recommended allowing six of seven peptides under review to be used by compounding pharmacies for patients with prescriptions. The recommendation went against FDA staff concerns that there was insufficient evidence to establish their safety and effectiveness.

The proposal has drawn support from some peptide sellers. Telehealth companies Hims & Hers and Noom have also announced plans to offer peptides if federal restrictions are eased. Wall Street analysts estimate the market could be worth $2 billion to $3 billion.

What Are Peptides?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that play various roles in the body, including regulating hormones and processes involved in growth, metabolism and healing. Some peptide-based medicines are approved for conditions such as diabetes and obesity.

However, other peptides promoted online have not been adequately studied or approved as medicines.

BPC-157 is often combined with TB-500, a peptide derived from thymosin beta-4, in a combination marketed as the “Wolverine stack.” It is promoted online for tissue repair and recovery from muscle, tendon and other injuries. BPC-157 is not approved by the FDA for medical use.

Read More: 4 in 10 US High School Students Report Binge Eating: What Are the Risks?

What Are The Safety Concerns?

The FDA has raised concerns about limited human safety data, potential immune reactions and impurities in BPC-157 products. It has also cited risks associated with certain compounded peptides, including contamination, allergic reactions and tumor growth.

The agency's adverse-event database includes reports of injection-site reactions, shortness of breath and skin or gum pigmentation changes among people who used BPC-157. However, these reports do not establish that the peptide caused the events.

Compounded medicines can meet specific patient needs, but they are not FDA-approved. The agency does not verify their safety, effectiveness and quality through the same premarket approval process used for approved drugs.

Allowing pharmacies to compound certain peptides would not mean the substances had received FDA approval or that their safety and effectiveness had been established.

Nearly 4 in 10 US high school students reported binge eating at least once in the previous 30 days in 2025, according to a new survey by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The biennial Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 40.5% of students reported binge eating on at least one day, while 17.2% reported it on three or more days. Frequent binge eating was more common among female students (18.6%) than male students (15.9%).

Binge Eating Linked to Poor Mental Health

The survey was conducted among 10,710 students in grades 9–12. However, valid responses to the binge-eating question were available for 6,898 students.

Students reporting poor mental health were more likely to report binge eating on three or more days in the previous 30 days than those who did not report poor mental health (27.2% versus 14%).

The prevalence was also higher among students reporting persistent sadness or hopelessness (25.4% versus 12.8%) and those who had seriously considered attempting suicide (27.1% versus 15.3%).

Previous research has linked binge eating with depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. However, the CDC noted that its cross-sectional findings cannot establish cause and effect or determine which condition came first.

“It was extremely alarming seeing how high those numbers were,” Ariel Beccia, a researcher in the adolescent and children’s medicine division at Boston Children’s Hospital, told STAT News.

“Eating disorders not only affect everyone, they also affect marginalized youth more, actually,” Beccia said.

Frequent Social Media Use Also Linked to Binge Eating

Students who used social media at least hourly were more likely to report binge eating on three or more days than those who used it once a day or less (22.8% versus 12.9%).

Exposure to appearance- and diet-related content, comparisons with others and idealized body standards have been proposed as possible pathways linking social media use to body dissatisfaction and binge eating. However, the survey measured how frequently students used social media, not the content they viewed, and cannot establish that social media use causes binge eating.

Differences Across Student Groups

Frequent binge eating was reported by 20.5% of Hispanic students and 18.7% of Black students, compared with 14.6% of White students. The prevalence was 19.6% among multiracial students and 9.9% among Middle Eastern or North African students.

The CDC cautioned that the estimate for Middle Eastern or North African students was imprecise because of the small sample size. These figures refer to binge eating on three or more days in the previous 30 days.

The findings highlight the need for continued monitoring of disordered eating among adolescents, along with prevention, early identification and access to appropriate support. The CDC said schools, families, health care providers and mental health professionals could play a role in these efforts.

What Is Binge Eating?

Binge eating involves consuming an unusually large amount of food in a short period while feeling a loss of control over eating. It is a form of disordered eating, but it does not necessarily meet the criteria for a diagnosis of binge-eating disorder.

Signs and symptoms of binge-eating disorder may include:

• Eating until uncomfortably full
• Eating more quickly than usual
• Eating despite not feeling hungry
• Turning to food during stress or emotional distress
• Eating alone out of embarrassment
• Experiencing guilt, shame or a sense of losing control over eating

How Is Binge Eating Treated?

Treatment may include psychotherapy (talk therapy), such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT). Depending on individual needs, treatment may also involve medication and nutritional counseling.

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has introduced new measures to improve how the risks of suicidal thoughts and behaviors and persistent sexual dysfunction are communicated to people taking antidepressants.

Following a review involving patients and their families, the MHRA will introduce a boxed warning in patient information leaflets (PILs), a patient safety card, and an additional safety leaflet. The term “post-SSRI sexual dysfunction” (PSSD) will also be added to the leaflets for certain antidepressants.

“Patients need clear and accessible information about the benefits and risks of medicines so they can make informed decisions,” Dr. Alison Cave, MHRA chief safety officer, said.

She said the changes would support informed discussions among patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. Dr. Cave added that antidepressants can effectively treat depression when used appropriately and under clinical supervision. Patients should not stop taking these medicines without first consulting their healthcare professional.

What Are the New Antidepressant Warnings?

Also read: GLP-1 Drugs May Offer Mental Health Benefits, Reduce Schizophrenia Relapses: Lancet Study

Patient information leaflets will feature a boxed warning directing readers to information about suicidal thoughts and behaviors, making the guidance easier to find.

A patient safety card is expected to accompany medicine packaging, reinforcing key safety messages and explaining when and how to seek support.

For certain antidepressants, updated leaflets will include information on PSSD, highlighting the possibility that sexual dysfunction may persist after treatment ends.

The MHRA is also developing an additional safety leaflet with the wider healthcare system. Expected in 2027, it will explain the benefits and risks of antidepressant treatment to support informed decisions. It will be given to patients at their first appointment discussing antidepressants and to those already receiving treatment.

Concerns Over SSRI Safety Warnings

The MHRA has received four prevention of future deaths reports since 2020 concerning antidepressant prescribing and safety information. One followed the 2024 death by suicide of Thomas Kingston, husband of Lady Gabriella Kingston, at age 45.

An inquest heard that Kingston had been prescribed sertraline and later switched to citalopram after reporting that his medication was not helping. Both are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). He had also received the sleeping tablet zopiclone for sleep difficulties and had stopped taking his medication before his death.

Gloucestershire senior coroner Katy Skerrett questioned whether patients were adequately informed about the suicide risks associated with SSRIs. Kingston’s parents called for clearer communication of potential side effects to patients and their families.

Read More: AI Chatbots May Be Changing How Children Seek Emotional Support

What Should Healthcare Professionals Do?

The MHRA advises healthcare professionals to:

• Discuss the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors when starting antidepressants, changing doses, and during subsequent reviews.
• Explain that some antidepressants can cause sexual dysfunction that may continue after treatment stops.
• Follow relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance and monitor patients regularly after treatment begins.
• Provide the additional safety leaflet when it becomes available in 2027.
• Report suspected adverse reactions through the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme.

What Should Patients Taking Antidepressants Know?

Patients experiencing new or worsening suicidal thoughts should seek urgent medical attention, particularly when starting treatment or changing their dose. In the UK, they can contact NHS 111, their local mental health crisis team, Samaritans on 116 123, or the SHOUT text service at 85258.

Anyone concerned about sexual dysfunction during or after antidepressant treatment should contact their healthcare professional.

The MHRA said these are not new risks associated with the medicines. Patients should read the information supplied with their medication and consult their healthcare professional before stopping treatment.