Singer Jesy Nelson Breaks Down Over Terrifying Pregnancy Complications- Why Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome Is So Dangerous?

Updated Mar 7, 2025 | 01:00 AM IST

SummaryTwin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a rare pregnancy complication in identical twins sharing a placenta, causing uneven blood flow, which can lead to severe health risks or fatal outcomes if untreated.
Singer Jesy Nelson Breaks Down Over Terrifying Pregnancy Complications- Why Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome Is So Dangerous

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.

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Delhi Sees Highest Malaria Cases in November, Reports a Fourfold Increase

Updated Nov 25, 2025 | 11:44 AM IST

SummaryDelhi reported 67 malaria cases in November, the highest for the month in four years, though dengue and chikungunya cases declined. In 2025, the city has logged 690 malaria cases so far with no deaths. Most cases came from West, South and Civil Lines, with infections rising steadily since August.
Delhi Sees Highest Malaria Cases in November, Reports a Fourfold Increase

Credits: iStock

In November, Delhi reported 67 malaria case, the highest November tally in four years. However, dengue cases have declined when compared to the same month's data from previous four years. The data is released by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

As per the MCD data, in November 2025, Delhi reported 67 malaria cases, whereas in 2024, it was 57; in 2023, it was 26; in 2022, the number of cases were 36; and in 2021, only 7 cases were recorded.

As for the year 2025, so far 690 cases have reported, which is slightly lower than 744 cases in 2024. However, the number is higher than 369 cases recorded in 2023. The silver lining is that no malaria-related deaths have been reported so far this year. As per the data, malaria cases have gone up in the capital since August. 203 cases were recorded in September, 252 in October, and 67 so far cases in November.

The highest numbers of cases have come from West, South and Civil Line zones of Delhi.

Among other mosquito-borne diseases, chikungunya cases have also seen a drop this month, as only 23 cases were reported so far in November. This number is lower than the 75 cases recorded in November 2024, however is higher than the 15 cases recorded in November 2023, 4 in 2022, and 8 in 2021.

What Is Malaria?

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites that are transmitted through the bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. Common symptoms include high fever, chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, and fatigue. In some cases, especially when untreated, malaria can cause severe complications such as organ failure, difficulty breathing, or even death. The symptoms typically appear 10 to 15 days after being bitten and can resemble those of the flu, making early diagnosis and treatment crucial.

Are There any Ways For You To Identify Malaria?

Malaria is a life-threatening disease spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes. It is mostly found in tropical countries and is preventable and curable. The infection is caused by a parasite and does not spread from person to person. Symptoms can be mild or life-threatening.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mild symptoms include fever, chills and headache. Severe symptoms include fatigue, confusion, seizures, and difficulty breathing. Infants, children under 5 years, pregnant women and girls, travellers and people with HIV or AIDS are at higher risk of severe infection.

There is empirical evidence that it can also be transmitted through blood transfusion and contaminated needles. Transfusion-transmitted malaria (TTM) occurs when an uninfected person receives blood from a donor who is infected with malaria parasites. While malaria transmission through transfusion is rare, especially in non-endemic areas, it remains a significant concern in certain regions. According to a systematic review of studies conducted by National Library of Medicine, Plasmodium parasites were shown to survive in whole blood and plasma when stored at 4°C for up to 18 days, and detectable parasites can present even up to 28 days when frozen, although with diminished infectivity.

Common Symptoms Of Malaria

  • extreme tiredness and fatigue
  • impaired consciousness
  • multiple convulsions
  • difficulty breathing
  • dark or bloody urine
  • jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)
  • abnormal bleeding

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As Toxic Air Chokes Delhi, Government Asks Offices To Work At 50% Strength

Updated Nov 25, 2025 | 07:43 AM IST

SummaryDelhi’s worsening air pollution has triggered GRAP Stage III measures, requiring government and private offices to operate at 50% capacity while the rest work from home. Essential services remain exempt. With AQI at hazardous levels and PM2.5 nearly 19 times above WHO limits, doctors urge masking, limited outdoor activity, and antioxidant-rich diets.
As Toxic Air Chokes Delhi, Government Asks Offices To Work At 50% Strength

People protest at India gate demanding clean air to breathe (PTI)

Amid the continuously worsening air pollution and air quality levels in Delhi, the government has implemented a work-from-home measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

As per the notice by the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi and Department of Environment & Forest, all government offices under the GNCTD and private offices operating within Delhi must now function at 50 percent staff strength, with remaining employees required to work from home.

Administrative Secretaries and Heads of Departments may only call essential staff when necessary. However, the overall attendance cannot exceed the 50 percent limit. Private offices have also been instructed to minimize vehicular movement, adopt staggered working hours, and ensure strict adherence to work-from-home protocols to reduce emissions tied to daily commuting.

Read: Living In Delhi's Toxic Air Is A 'Medical Emergency', According AIIMS Doctors

Which Offices Are Not Working From Home?

Delhi Government Order

Essential services, however, are exempt from these restrictions. Hospitals, health facilities, fire services, public transport, water and sanitation departments, disaster management agencies, electricity services, and teams involved in pollution control and emergency duties will continue operating normally.

District Magistrates, Deputy Commissioners of Police and local bodies have been directed to ensure strict compliance across all private offices in Delhi. The restrictions take effect immediately and will remain in force for the full duration of GRAP Stage III, or longer if recommended by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

Delhi AQI Today

On Tuesday morning, as of 7:30 am, Delhi woke up to 'Hazardous' air with the AQI as per the aqi.in, recorded at 426. The AQI in Delhi is showing 1.7 times higher than India's average AQI.

The particulate matters have long exceeded the safe limits stated by the World Health Organization (WHO). As of today, the PM10 level is 388 µg/m³, which is 8.6 times above the recommended WHO guidelines. Whereas PM2.5 is at 288 µg/m³, which is 19.2 times the WHO guidelines.

Also Read: Delhi Pollution Is A Major Health Hazard, Toxic Air Could Even Cause Organ Damage, According To Doctors

What Does The Doctor Say?

Dr Nikhil Modi, a senior consultant, Respiratory Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in one of his previous video had said that the pollution is an "ever-growing menace". However, he suggests, one can take simple steps to protected against that.

Like all doctors he too suggested to not go out when the pollution levels are at its peak. "You may go out only if it is very necessary, but wear a mask." As per a 2023 study by an air filter brand, Delhi's air pollution peaked at 9AM and gradually improved as the day progressed. On an average, Delhi sees roughly as half as much PM2.5 by 5PM. The doctor also draws attention on the importance of maintaining a good and healthy diet, especially lots of fruits and vegetables, which are rich in antioxidants.

Health Impact Of Air Pollution Beyond The Lungs

A report by the University of Chicago revealed that air pollution is reducing the life expectancy of Delhi residents by 7.8 years. As per a US-based NGO report by the Health Effects Institute, there has been 30 to 50% increase in lung cancer rates associated with pollutants. A recent 2024 study also revealed that air pollution is not just linked to lung cancer but it can also cause head and neck cancer.

Tata Memorial Hospital published a study in July 2024 that revealed most people who had lung cancer in India never smoked.

"Head and neck cancer is a harder link to show, and it has a much lower occurrence than lung cancers, but since they also occur as a result of smoking, similar to lung cancers, we wanted to explore any connections," said John Cramer, the neck cancer study's lead researcher. "Presumably, the link to head and neck cancer comes from what we breathe to that material affecting the lining in the head and neck. We see a lot of occurrences of where carcinogens touch or pool in the body to where cancers can occur," he explained.

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Flu Season Is Only Starting, and Doctors Urge Patients to Stay On High Alert

Updated Nov 25, 2025 | 06:52 AM IST

SummaryFlu season has begun early, and cases are expected to rise during holiday travel as a fast-spreading H3N2 subclade K strain drives outbreaks seen in the U.K. and Canada. U.S. experts warn of higher risks for older adults and children, urging vaccination as infections, hospitalizations and emergency visits steadily increase.
Flu Season Is Only Starting, and Doctors Urge Patients to Stay On High Alert

Credits: Canva

The flu season has started earlier than expected in some parts of the country. The cases may erupt as soon as people start to travel, meet more people during the Thanksgiving and other upcoming holidays. However, there have been warning signs of a virus that has already set off massive outbreaks in UK and Canada, called the H3N2 subclade K.

What Is The Flu Strain Subclade K?

It is a variant of the H3N2 virus that had been circulating in other countries over the summers. Experts say the new variant is driving a surge in flu cases across Canada, Japan, and the U.K. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that of nearly 150 test samples identified as part of the H3 lineage, more than half belonged to the subclade K group.

The influx of patients have been high too, as Dr Cameron Wolfe, a disease specialist at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina suggest, and is reported by the NBC. "At the moment, we’ve had two, three, four per day coming in," he said.

Alicia Budd, who leads the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s domestic influenza surveillance team, said flu activity in the United States is expected to rise steadily in the coming weeks.

How Dangerous Is The New H3N2 Flu Strain?

So far, most of the flu circulating this season is the H3N2 strain, which historically causes more hospitalizations and deaths among older adults. An early spike in cases, experts say, can heighten risks for this age group. Wolfe noted that when flu season begins unusually early, some nursing homes may still be rolling out vaccinations and some hospitals may not have fully vaccinated their staff. As a result, communities may be less protected than they typically would be if the virus peaked later in the winter.

Overall flu activity remains low, but the CDC’s latest report shows cases climbing. The agency estimates that at least 650,000 people have had the flu so far this season, with around 7,400 hospitalized and 300 deaths reported.

Budd said most of the rise in cases and emergency room visits is occurring in children. Last year, 280 children in the United States died from the flu, marking the deadliest pediatric flu season ever recorded outside the 2009 to 2010 H1N1 pandemic. No pediatric deaths have been reported yet this season, though doctors remain concerned after last winter’s rapid spread of the virus through schools, day care centers and hospitals.

“It feels like the calm before the storm,” said Dr. Buddy Creech, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “We may have a difficult influenza year.”

H3N2 is known for mutating easily, and a new version of the strain, known as subclade K, appeared over the summer with several mutations. It emerged after this season’s flu shot formula had already been finalized and has already driven significant outbreaks in Canada and the United Kingdom.

Budd said the CDC is studying how well the current vaccine matches this evolving strain, but she urged people to get vaccinated regardless. Even when the circulating strain is not a perfect match, she said, the shot still helps reduce the severity of illness.

Doctors across the country are watching the latest trends closely. “Does it turn on our antenna a little bit more? Yes,” said Dr. Daniel Varga, chief physician executive at Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey. “It makes us even more vigilant about the monitoring we do locally.”

Dr. Melanie Kitagawa, medical director of the pediatric intensive care unit at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, stressed that it is not too late to get vaccinated. She said the more people who receive the flu shot before flu activity accelerates, the better protected communities will be.

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