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.
If left untreated, TTTS can have devastating consequences. Medical research indicates that:
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.
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.
Twin pregnancies, even without the presence of TTTS, entail a variety of health risks to the mother as well as infants:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Credits: iStock
The nation debate around vaccine has intensified in the US, and this week, it has taken a sharper turn as three separate developments have coincided in the country, all concerned with the administration of vaccines. Amid the controversial appointment of nation's top public health agency - the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and a major court ruling on school vaccine requirement in West Virginia, a third case of unvaccinated infant death is reported from Kentucky. The health officials confirm that the infant died of whooping cough, a vaccine preventable disease, which has reignited the debates around the use of vaccine.
While national debates continue, Kentucky is facing a direct and heartbreaking consequence of falling vaccination rates. Health officials have announced the death of another infant from whooping cough, bringing the total to three deaths in the past 12 months. The first two represented the state’s first pertussis deaths since 2018.
The Kentucky Department for Public Health did not disclose where the most recent death occurred. Officials expressed deep concern about the surge in cases and urged families to stay up to date on recommended vaccines. They stressed that vaccination protects not only individuals but also those who are too young or medically unable to be vaccinated.
As of November 19, Kentucky has recorded 566 pertussis cases this year. Infants under one year old face the highest risk of severe illness and death. The health department confirmed that none of the infants who died had been vaccinated, nor had their mothers received the recommended maternal pertussis shot during pregnancy.
Whooping cough begins with mild cold-like symptoms but can progress within weeks to violent coughing fits that make it hard for babies to breathe. Doctors warn that vaccination in pregnancy and infancy remains the most effective way to protect the youngest children.
The death of an unvaccinated child happened while anti-vaxxer Ralph Abraham, the former Louisiana surgeon general, was appointed as the new deputy director of the CDC. It has drawn immediate criticism. Abraham is now the second highest-ranking official at the agency, yet he has a long record of questioning mainstream vaccine guidance.
During the pandemic, Abraham openly supported the use of ivermectin, discouraged the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine and repeatedly criticized COVID-19 vaccines. While serving as Louisiana’s top health official, he instructed his department to stop promoting mass vaccination and stayed silent for two months during a pertussis outbreak that killed two infants earlier this year.
His appointment has alarmed public health experts, including his predecessor. Nirav Shah, who previously served as the CDC’s deputy director, told The New York Times that Abraham is not the right person for a role that involves leading emergency responses. Shah said that delaying public communication about infant pertussis deaths was unacceptable and called it shameful.
The debate over vaccine policy was further amplified after a judge in West Virginia ruled that the state must allow religious exemptions to its long-standing school immunization requirements. For decades, West Virginia has maintained one of the highest childhood vaccination rates in the country by permitting only medical exemptions.
Judge Michael E. Froble ruled that the policy violated the state’s religious freedom law, which was enacted two years ago. He said families who sought religious exemptions were being forced to choose between following their beliefs and accessing public education. His ruling now applies to all families who have previously requested religious exemptions.
The decision arrives at a time when measles and other vaccine-preventable illnesses are climbing nationwide. It also follows the appointment of Abraham to the CDC and ongoing remarks from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has repeatedly expressed skepticism about vaccine science. Together, these shifts are raising questions about how strongly the country’s health policies will hold in the coming years.
Credits: Instagram
Ruth Codd, Irish actor and The Celebrity Traitors star revealed that she is now recovering from her second below-knee amputation. Codd, 29, was first shot to fame on TikTok during pandemic, and shared the news in a candid video on Wednesday.
She had her first leg amputated six years ago after a football injury in her teens, which led to repeated surgeries, chronic pain, and long-term mobility issues. Posting another video again from her parents’ home, she joked that her return to filming there felt like a “full circle moment,” but added that she could no longer record videos in her favorite room because it is upstairs.
In her TikTok update, Codd with a bit of humor revealed the news. “Good news, I’m back making TikTok content in my parents’ house. Bad news, I can’t do it in front of that lovely blue floral wallpaper any more, because I’ve just had my second below-knee amputation,” she said, adding, “So, a lot to unpack there for everyone involved.”
She also introduced her followers to her new wheelchair, affectionately named “Fat Tony,” joking that it has “the top speed of f*** all per hour, especially if there’s a step involved.” Her caption read: “No legs who dis? #paralympics2026.”
Codd’s latest surgery follows years of complications linked to her original injury. In a recent interview on FFTV’s YouTube channel, she revealed she had all her toes amputated in 2021. She had spent eight years relying heavily on crutches, which she said forced her to walk on her “tippy toes,” eventually destroying the joints in her foot.
Doctors had told her the foot would “never get any better,” and that worsening pain was making it increasingly difficult to work. “It’s gone past the point where they can do anything about it,” she told FFTV.
The actor has spoken openly about the recovery process, explaining that she will have to wait at least a month for her limb to heal before she can begin using a prosthetic. Despite the challenges, her tone online remains upbeat and self-aware, reflecting the personality that first gained her a loyal audience during the Covid pandemic.
Codd’s TikTok content—often comedic sketches and videos promoting disability awareness, helped her amass more than 20 million likes in a year after she lost her job as a make-up artist and barber. Her success on the platform led her to acting roles in Netflix series The Midnight Club and The Fall of the House of Usher.
Earlier this year, Codd appeared in the first series of The Celebrity Traitors, where she impressed viewers with her sharp observations. She correctly identified Jonathan Ross as a “traitor,” but was ultimately eliminated in episode four. Reflecting on her time on the show, she described the experience as “surreal,” saying it still feels like she could “wake up from a very weird dream.” Despite the difficulties of her recent surgery, Codd continues to bring humor and openness to her situation, qualities that have defined her rise from TikTok creator to Netflix actor.
Credits: Wikimedia Commons
Jenny McCarthy, American actress and model in an interview with People revealed her 'horrific' experience of having mouth infections. She is now feeling thankful for being able to eat the Thanksgiving turkey dinner.
She tells People, "I've had nine surgeries this year, on my mouth. I had one infection that turned into another and another, and then I had these growths show up on my eyeballs."
How it started? She said it all started with a failed ceramic dental implant. "My teeth were falling out, implants falling out. They finally had to dig into my jawbone and chipped away, and found I had a deep bone infection. I've been on antibiotics for a year, and have had to eat soft foods only."
While on the November 25 holiday card with she and her husband Donnie Wahlberg, McCarthy looked fit, she revealed that she had "two more mouth surgeries even after that photo was taken". She says that she had been "pretty unlucky".
"As of now, I am able to chew again," she says, "but every time we thought it had cleared up, it came back again. I'd be in massive pain with my jaw swelling up, and at the same time I was getting these growths popping up on my eyeball. People should actually feel a little sorry for me."
Now that she has been well, she is looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving with her husband. "It's been a little tricky-wicky getting together," she says of balancing their busy schedules.
She revealed that she was shooting The Masked Singer in Los Angeles, and her husband was in Canada with Boston Blue. "So it's been tricky and difficult, which means Thanksgiving and Christmas will mean more to us than ever this year. It's just me and him, at home in Chicago, me cooking a bird, and enjoying each other," she says.
The best part? She says she will be able to enjoy much more than just mashed potatoes now that her mouth infections have cleared up. "I think I'm past the storm. I'm about to chow down," she says.
While McCarthy did not say what she actually had, she did refer that it all started with a "failed ceramic dental implant". Experts point out that due to their anatomical proximity, the eyes and teeth share many nerve and vascular connections. This is why, eye problems could follow a tooth infection.
An infection or a dental abscess of the tooth can easily by continuity spread and be the cause of uveitis, or the infection of uvea. It can also cause other infections in the tear duct, the orbit, lower eyelid, or more.
Studies have also shown that several roots of "spread" due to the infected tooth. For instance, infections in the incisors and canines will spread through the blood or cell. Whereas infections in premolars and molars spread further through the maxillary sinuses. There are 10 to 20% of maxillary sinusitis of dental origin.
Wisdom teeth can reach the lower orbital tissue of the eye, and infections and dental abscesses could spread by the subperiosteum or the set of layers of the periphery of the bones, along with the upper jaw to the tear duct. The infection or abscess can also open a look through the lower edge of the eye socket. This case is quite exceptional except in the case of severe sinusitis.
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