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.

President Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that the media reports on his physical conditions were "seditious, perhaps even treasonous". He called these reports "fake", and said that "They are true Enemies of the People, and we should do something about it."

He was referring to the media reports by The New York Times and other media platforms that have time and again questioned the "perfectly fit" state of the President. The NYT in response said that it would not be deterred by "false and inflammatory language" that distorts the role of a free press.

Which Media Reports Is He Talking About?

While the 79-year-old president with an "excellent health" record did not specify which report he was referring to, the newspaper had posted a few handful of reports in recent week. In a November 25 story, 'Shorter Days, Signs of Fatigue: Trump Faces Realities of Aging In Office', reporters noted that Trump's public and travel schedules were now less than how it used to be.

The report also noted that during an Oval Office event on November 6, while other executives talked about weight-loss drugs, President Trump sat behind his desk for about 20 minutes and at one point, his eyelids drooped until his eyes were almost closed. The report notes: "He appeared to doze on and off for several seconds. At another point, he opened his eyes and looked toward a line of journalists watching him. He stood up only after a guest who was standing near him fainted and collapsed."

Read: Is President Trump Healthy? Ask Netizens As Trump Slept While Dr Oz Spoke On Dementia And Obesity At The Press Conference

Another story from December 2 accompanied the video where he "appeared to be fighting sleep" during a cabinet meeting.

A story from December 8 'Trump's Approval Ratings Have Declined. So Has His Vigor', columnist Frank Bruni wrote that Americans "might wat to brace ourselves for some presidential deja vu. He is starting to give President Joe Biden vibes." The comparison with Biden comes from the debate with Trump that raised doubts about the then-President's fitness to run the office.

Trump Denies Any Allegations Against His Health

Despite these reports, Trump says that he is history's hardest-working president with a lengthy list of accomplishments, reported AP. He also said that he went out of his way to get a "long, thorough, and very boring" medical examination, which also included three cognitive tests, which, according to him, he "ACED".

“The New York Times, and some others, like to pretend that I am ‘slowing up,’ and maybe not as sharp as I once was, or am in poor physical health, knowing that it is not true,” the President said.

This is not the first time that health of an American President is being discussed. From a long time, this debate has been a delicate one, and there have been cases of the White House and the press covering it. The instances are Gorver Cleveland's secret tumor surgery, Woodrow Wilson's debilitating stroke, Franklin D Roosevelt's polio, Dwight D Eisenhower's heart attack, and also President Trump questioning cognitive fitness of former President Biden.

Trump has already a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against Times. He is also involved in legal cases with The Associated Press and CBS News, among others, reported AP.

Flu-Nami hits the UK winters and the National Health Services (NHS) is bracing it as the healthcare system struggles with overwhelming cases. This is a severe "super flu" that has surged across the UK, leading to hospitalization in England in its early-winter levels. NHS leaders have warned for a "worst case scenario" in December.

General practitioner and health communicator, Dr Rob Hicks writes in Medscape that an average of 2660 patients per day were in an NHS hospital bed last week for flu. This is the "highest ever recorded for early December and a 55% increase on the previous week".

When compared to last year, there were 1861 patients on hospital beds with flu, and in 2023, it was only 402.

Since the pandemic, flu numbers have peaked at 5408 patients last winter and 5441 between 2022 to 2023. In fact, NHS national medical director Professor Meghna Pandit also said an "unprecedented wave of super flu" meant staff was being "pushed to the limit". She said that with hospitalizations continuing to rise, "the peak is not in sight yet"

“The NHS is in the thick of a storm come early. Flu is hitting hard, and shows no sign of abating,” warned NHS Provider chief executive Daniel Elkeles.

The Flu-Nami Explained

The NHS record of over 2000 beds being occupied by flu patients is what referred to as a 'flu-nami'. A dig at the word tsunami, to explain the wave of flu patients in early winters. All thanks to the mutated flu virus or the subclade K of the "drifted flu H3N2 strain".

This puts Christmas is danger, as the holidays are not far off and in people being gathered, the virus, which is already more contagious in nature, could spread more easily. The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) mainly affects babies and elderly people. Along with that COVID is already causing problems. Pandit warns that these two could "engulf hospitals".

On top of that, thousands of resident doctors in England are also out on strike next week. The British Medical Association has called for strikes over pay and working conditions of the doctors since 2023. It argued that resident doctors' pay is 20% lower in real terms than it was in 2008, even after the 2025 increases.

Vaccine Is The First Line Of Defense

New figures from the UKHSA show that flu vaccine uptake among people at higher risk is alarmingly low. By 7 December, only 37.4% of under-65s with one or more long-term conditions had received their shot.

The numbers are even lower for some groups. Only 35.6 percent of pregnant women had been vaccinated. Among young children, just 41.5 percent of two-year-olds and 42.3 percent of three-year-olds had received the jab.

The one group doing better is adults over 65, where uptake has reached 71.7 percent.

Doctors are urging people to take every possible step to avoid catching or spreading flu. Ed Hutchinson, professor of molecular and cellular virology at Glasgow University, said that simple measures like masking, social distancing and working from home can make a big difference to how fast influenza spreads.

Shereen Hussein, professor of health policy at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, encouraged people to look out for older relatives and neighbors and help them get vaccinated.

“This Christmas, safe connection should be the priority when visiting people. Short but frequent visits, good ventilation, wearing a mask if you have mild symptoms or have recently been unwell, and switching to phone or video calls if an in-person visit isn’t safe,” Hussein said.

Watson from the UKHSA also repeated the agency’s guidance that anyone with symptoms who needs to go out should consider wearing a face covering.

There have been reports of some pharmacies running short of flu vaccines, but pharmacy groups say these are only isolated cases and that overall supply remains strong.

Separate NHS England data released on Thursday showed that the waiting list for planned hospital care rose again in October, climbing slightly to 7.4 million treatments from 7.39 million in September.

Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said the latest performance figures paint a familiar picture of a health system under constant pressure.

“While the ongoing flu-nami is being blamed for most of the crisis, it has become a convenient excuse. The reality is that the situation comes from years of shrinking capacity and chronic workforce shortages,” she said.

Health secretary Wes Streeting added that hospitals are facing “a tidal wave of flu tearing through our wards.”

Measles outbreak in South Carolina exposed over 250 people, including dozens of unvaccinated school-aged children, are now quarantining. The disease has now sickened more than 110 people in the state. While experts have already declared this season to be the worst year for virus, measles has made a come back, worsening the year of disease, especially because it had been eliminated from the US for more than two decades ago.

Cases have been centered in Spartanburg County, along the northern border of the state, reports the New York Times, and virus seems to have spread widely throughout the community. People are also being exposed to it at church, health care building, and schools.

The measles outbreak in South Carolina started in October and from thereon, it showed no signs of slowing. In fact, Dr Linda Bell, South Carolina's state epidemiologist said at a news conference on Wednesday, this has happened because country's "lower-than-hoped-for vaccination coverage".

Vaccination Has Gone Down

In the 2024–25 school year, roughly 90 percent of students in Spartanburg County received all their required childhood vaccines, including the measles, mumps and rubella shot. While that number may sound high, it still falls short of the national average and the 95 percent coverage that experts say is needed to stop measles from spreading in a community.

Several of the schools where students are now in quarantine have vaccination rates that drop well below 90 percent, based on state data.

Health officials pointed out that measles can disrupt lives even for those who never get sick. In South Carolina, a few unvaccinated students were exposed to the virus twice, which meant they had to quarantine twice for 21 days each time. That is more than a month of missed school.

“That’s a significant amount of time,” Dr. Bell said. “Vaccination continues to be the best way to prevent the disruption that measles is causing to people’s education and to employment.”

State officials have increased their outreach around the MMR vaccine, although it is still unclear if these efforts are making a real difference. Uptake has been limited, according to Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services. He said vaccination remains “the best way to protect against measles” and encouraged people to speak with a doctor about what makes the most sense for them.

Tracing The Outbreaks That Reappeared After Measles Elimination From The US

This appears to be the third major measles outbreak in the United States this year. The first began along the western edge of Texas in January and spread into Oklahoma and New Mexico, eventually becoming the largest measles outbreak the country has seen in decades.

A second multistate outbreak emerged in August in the region between Utah and Arizona, where health officials have reported dozens of new cases in just the past few weeks.

Across the country, more than 1,900 measles cases have been reported so far this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Three unvaccinated people, including two children, have died.

Canada has also been struggling with large and deadly outbreaks this year. The situation became so severe that the country officially lost its measles elimination status last month.

Although measles symptoms usually clear within a few weeks, the virus can lead to serious complications. It can cause pneumonia, which makes it hard for patients, especially young children, to breathe. It can also lead to swelling in the brain, potentially resulting in long-term problems such as blindness, deafness or intellectual disabilities.

For every 1,000 children who get measles, one or two will die, according to the CDC.