The mother of babies thought to be the UK’s most premature twins to survive has told of her “absolute disbelief” at going into labour nearly four months early.

Harry and Harley Crane were born on 26 October at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham – and may be ready to leave hospital before their original due date.

Their mother, Jade, said her initial reaction when she was told she was going into labour was “absolute disbelief” and that doctors told her there was a high chance of her having a miscarriage.

She said: “The twins are doing amazingly. We aren’t out of the woods yet, but we’re taking it day by day.”

Harry and Harley, who weighed 500g (1.10lb) and 520g (1.14lb) respectively when they were born, are now 16 weeks old.

The twins are “little fighters”, Ms Crane told the BBC.

They have had six operations between them, she said, and suffered sepsis, eye problems and lung and brain bleeds.

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The twins may now be able to leave hospital within the next week, before their original due date.

Ms Crane said she had become “reliant” on her team of nurses at the hospital, and said that her twins were the smallest babies they had ever seen.

In 2020, a ‘miracle’ premature baby girl born weighing just 510g was brought home after spending months in hospital.

Mei Li Powell, of the Borne Foundation, a charity that aims to prevent premature birth, said: “A multiple birth at such an early gestation is incredibly rare and we wish the twins and their family the best on their neonatal journey.

“While survival rates in recent years have increased for babies born prematurely, more research is needed to prevent premature birth and to ensure more babies survive.”

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