Eight-month-old twins from Hayward Heath, West Sussex, recently met the surgeon who saved their lives even before they were born. The BBC reports how their mother, Katerina Ahouansou, at six months pregnant, during a routine scan, uncovered a serious issue with their development and blood supply.

Doctors diagnosed the twins with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome or TTTS. It is a condition where one twin received more blood and nourishment than the other due to uneven blood vessel distribution in the placenta. In case there is no medical intervention, it could be fatal for both the twins.

A Specialist Steps In

This is when Ahouansou was referred to Professor Kypros Nicolaides at King’s College Hospital in London. Professor Nicolaides is a pioneer in fetal medicine and he specializes in a laser procedure that redistributes blood supply between twins in cases of TTTS.

When Ahouansou was scanned, Nicolaides observed that one of the twins were significantly smaller than the other. "There was a very high chance that if we did not intervene, both twins could die," he recalled.

An Operation No Less Than A Miracle

The life-saving laser surgery was performed and within a week the doctors saw an improvement with the twin who was smaller in size. When the twins were born, they weighed 1.5kg and 1.7kg. To recognize the efforts by the surgeon, Ahouansou named them Kai Kypros and Asher Nicolas after Professor Kypros Nicolaides.

Ahouansou also expressed deep gratitude for the professor's expertise and called him "proof that miracles can be performed by people who are devotees to their profession."

Professor Kypros Nicolaides has been at King’s College Hospital since 1980 and is widely regarded as a leader in fetal medicine. His groundbreaking research and development of screening and surgical techniques have saved countless lives.

Through his dedication, Professor Nicolaides has given many families hope, demonstrating how medical advancements continue to improve survival rates for complex fetal conditions like TTTS.

More about Twin-to-twin Transfusion Syndrome

As per the John Hopkins Medicine, TTTS is a rare pregnancy condition that affects identical twins or other multiples. It happens in pregnancies where twins share one placenta and a network of blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients essential for development in the womb. These pregnancies are known as monochorionic.

Sometimes, the blood vessels in the placenta are unevenly distributed, causing an imbalance in blood flow between the twins. The donor twin loses more blood than it receives, leading to malnutrition and potential organ failure. Meanwhile, the recipient twin gets an excess of blood, putting strain on the heart and increasing the risk of cardiac complications.

Impact on the Donor Twin

The donor twin loses blood volume (hypovolemia), reducing kidney function and urine production. This leads to low amniotic fluid levels (oligohydramnios) or, in severe cases, a complete absence (anhydramnios). Without proper blood circulation, the donor twin faces cardiovascular issues, increasing the risk of death.

Impact on the Recipient Twin

The recipient twin experiences excess blood volume (hypervolemia), causing increased urination and excessive amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios). The overworked heart struggles to handle the surplus blood, leading to cardiovascular dysfunction, heart failure, and, in extreme cases, death.

For many couples, the journey to parenthood does not always unfold as expected. While some conceive naturally without difficulty, others may struggle with fertility challenges caused by hormonal imbalances, ovulation disorders, endometriosis, PCOS, low sperm count, age-related decline in egg or sperm quality, or even unexplained infertility.

In such situations, assisted reproductive treatments such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) offer a path forward. IUI is often recommended in mild fertility concerns, while IVF is typically advised when conception becomes more complex. However, one reality that many couples are not prepared for is that IVF may not work in the very first attempt.

According to Dr. Mrunalini Jagne (Ahire), Fertility Consultant and IVF Specialist at Motherhood Hospital, Kharghar, a failed first IVF cycle can be emotionally overwhelming. “Many couples feel disappointed or discouraged when their first IVF cycle fails. But it is important to understand that one unsuccessful cycle does not mean pregnancy is impossible,” she says.

Read: Priyanka Chopra, Nick Jonas Open Up About Malti’s Premature Birth And NICU Battle

Why IVF May Not Work The First Time

IVF is a complex medical process that depends on multiple biological factors. Egg quality, sperm health, embryo development and the condition of the uterus all influence whether implantation will occur successfully. Even when the procedure is performed perfectly, these variables can affect the outcome.

“Fertility treatment involves several steps and each individual’s body responds differently to medication and procedures,” explains Dr. Jagne. “Sometimes the first cycle acts as a learning phase that helps doctors understand how the patient’s body reacts to the treatment.”

Because of this, many couples go on to conceive in subsequent cycles. The experience from the first attempt often provides valuable information that helps doctors refine the treatment strategy.

What Doctors Evaluate After A Failed IVF Cycle

When the first IVF cycle does not result in pregnancy, specialists usually conduct a detailed reassessment before planning the next attempt. This evaluation may include hormone testing to check fertility levels, hysteroscopy to examine the uterus, and genetic testing of embryos to identify underlying issues.

Doctors may also analyze ovarian reserve through tests such as Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) levels and Antral Follicle Count (AFC). In men, sperm DNA fragmentation tests may be recommended to assess sperm health more closely.

“Once we understand the possible factors that may have affected implantation, we can modify the treatment plan,” says Dr. Jagne. “This may involve adjusting medication doses, improving embryo selection techniques, or using additional diagnostic tests.”

Advances in reproductive medicine have also improved the chances of success in later cycles. Techniques such as preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), blastocyst culture and advanced embryo freezing methods like vitrification allow fertility specialists to select healthier embryos and optimize implantation timing.

“These technologies have significantly improved IVF outcomes in recent years,” Dr. Jagne notes.

How Couples Can Prepare For The Next Attempt

Apart from medical adjustments, lifestyle factors also play an important role in improving fertility outcomes. Couples planning another IVF cycle are often advised to maintain regular follow-up appointments and complete all recommended investigations.

Adopting healthy habits can also support the treatment process. Eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking and alcohol, and prioritizing good sleep can positively influence reproductive health. Stress management through yoga, meditation or counselling may also help couples cope with the emotional strain that often accompanies fertility treatments.

“Couples should focus on staying positive and following medical advice closely,” Dr. Jagne adds. “With proper care, many people who did not succeed in the first attempt go on to achieve a healthy pregnancy in later cycles.”

Hope Beyond The First Attempt

A failed IVF cycle can feel like a major setback, but experts emphasize that it is rarely the end of the fertility journey. With careful medical evaluation, improved treatment strategies and supportive lifestyle changes, many couples eventually succeed.

As Dr. Jagne puts it, “IVF is a process, and sometimes it takes more than one attempt. With the right guidance and perseverance, many couples are able to fulfil their dream of becoming parents.”

Danica McKellar, American actress said she was embarrassed to admit that she liked tasting her placenta. While she did not go into childbirth thinking she was going to taste her placenta, she says she is glad she did so.

She said this while explaining her surprising postpartum culinary experience in a conversation with Bobby Bones on The BobbyCast.

"My doula said, do you want to taste the placenta? I'd just given birth. And I'm like, sure. I mean, you're not even, you're not in your right mind. She gave me a piece of it. Bobby, it was like the best filet mignon that I have ever tasted. But more," she said.

She continued that she was embarrassed about how much she loved it. "It was bizarre. I thought, what is this, some sort of weird satanic...Am I a cannibal?"

She is now mom to 15-year-old son Draco Verta, who she shares with her ex-husband and composer Mike Verta.

Why Do People Eat Placenta?

A 2014 BBC report notes that placenta sustains life in the womb and leaves the mother once it has served its purposes after the childbirth. The nutrients that have passed from mother to fetus over the months of pregnancy are still packed inside the placenta and should not be wasted. Instead, the raw placenta, many believe, could provide what the mother needs to recover from childbirth and begins breastfeeding.

Some women, as the BBC report notes, are also choosing to drink the placenta in a fruit smoothie within hours of giving birth. While others keep it cool and send it off to be dried and made into capsules, or ripping chunk of it and placing it by their gums.

As per Mayo Clinic, some people believe that eating placenta can help them recover from postpartum depression. However, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning against taking placenta capsules. The warning was based on the case in which newborn developed an infection called group B streptococcus after the mother took placenta capsules.

The mother was thought to be infected with group B strep bacteria that came from the placenta because the capsules tested positive for the bacteria. Then the infection spread to the infant. Group B strep can cause serious illness in newborns. That may include a severe infection called sepsis. Group B strep also can lead to meningitis. Meningitis is an infection that affects the lining of the brain and spinal cord.

This infection happens when one processes their placenta and it could expose the placenta to bacteria or viruses.

Placenta And What It Holds

The placenta contain several hormones, including oxytocin, estrogen, progesterone, and relaxin. It is also rich in protein, amino acids, and minerals. However, the claims of people saying that it is healthy and should be consumed after delivering a child to avoid postpartum depression have not been fully tested. There are however cases where animals other than humans eat placenta after birth as it could reduce there labor pain. However, the same has not been proven in humans.

Leucovorin, a high-dose vitamin - folinic acid, were mostly used for treating toxic side effects of chemotherapy, until last year when the White House touted it as a potential treatment for some children with autism. New prescriptions for leucovorin double within weeks of announcement and parents have been trying hard to get it prescribed. This is also because many doctors have been hesitant to prescribe a chemotherapy medicine for childhood autism. They have also stated that not enough evidence is available to prescribe this drug officially.

CNN reported that in Austin, Texas, Meagan Johnson spent four days calling pharmacies across the region searching for leucovorin for her three-year-old son Jack, who has autism. She contacted nearly 40 pharmacies around her home in Pflugerville, hoping to locate the medication.

The effort came after a neurologist agreed to prescribe leucovorin on a trial basis. Johnson’s hope was simple: even a small improvement in her son’s communication would mean a lot. At age three, most children can say hundreds of words, but Jack speaks only about 20, many of which only his mother understands.

However, getting the prescription turned out to be far harder than obtaining it.

Across the United States, pharmacies have been reporting growing difficulty keeping leucovorin tablets in stock. Online support groups for parents of autistic children are now filled with posts from families searching for the medication or asking where it might still be available.

Although leucovorin is not approved specifically for autism, some small studies have suggested that it may help certain children who have unusually low levels of folate in the brain. Families who have tried it report possible improvements in language and social interaction.

A study published in The Lancet found that prescriptions for leucovorin doubled within weeks of the public remarks and remained elevated through early December. Researchers analysed electronic medical records covering nearly 300 million patients to identify the trend.

Experts say such spikes can quickly strain the supply of inexpensive generic drugs.

A Classic Demand-Driven Shortage

Pharmacy supply specialists describe the leucovorin situation as a demand-side shortage. Unlike manufacturing disruptions, these shortages happen when demand rises faster than manufacturers can increase production.

Generic drug manufacturers typically plan production schedules a year or more in advance. Because leucovorin had historically been a niche medication, companies were not prepared for a sudden surge in prescriptions.

As demand increased, pharmacies began running out of tablets. Many manufacturers have placed the drug on allocation or backorder, meaning pharmacies can only order limited quantities.

To ease the pressure, the US Food and Drug Administration allowed temporary imports of leucovorin tablets from Canada and Spain. However, the drug has not yet been officially listed on the FDA’s national drug shortage database, a designation that could trigger additional measures to boost supply.

Families Searching For A Treatment

For parents like Johnson, the debate over research evidence matters less than the possibility of progress.

After days of phone calls, a CVS pharmacist finally located a supply at another branch nearly an hour away. Johnson drove the distance to pick up the medication and gave Jack his first dose that same evening.

The moment brought relief, but also frustration.

Drug shortage advocates say the situation was predictable. Because leucovorin is inexpensive and historically prone to shortages, any sudden increase in demand could easily disrupt supply.

Still, families continue to search for it.