A woman has beaten odds of more than 700,000-to-1 to become the youngest mother in Britain to give 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 to consecutive sets of twins – by the age of 21.
Annie Gladstone, of Farnborough in Hampshire, had her first pair four years ago and could now enter the record books after giving 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 to healthy twin girls.
Ms Gladstone and fiancé Rich Porter, 26, conceived both pairs naturally and cannot understand their remarkable fertility, because neither of their families has a history of twins.
Annie Gladstone has become the youngest mother in Britain to give 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 to consecutive sets of twins. She is pictured with fiancé Rich Porter, their first sets of twins, Jayden (left) and Lillie (right) and holding new twin girls Georgie and Frankiee
Annie Gladstone had her first pair Jayden and Lillie four years ago. They are pictured holding their sisters Georgie and Frankiee
The full-time mother turned 22 just two weeks after non-identical twins Georgie, who weighed 5lbs, and Frankiee, who weighed 5lbs 4oz, arrived five minutes apart on September 10.
It made Ms Gladstone the youngest woman in Britain to give 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 to consecutive sets of twins.
The Royal College of Midwives say they have not heard of anyone in the country having two sets of consecutive twins at such an early age. It is much rarer than having a pair separated by a single 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦.
Ms Gladstone, whose 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren now get through 140 nappies a week, said: ‘We worked the odds out of more than 700,000 to one, just because it’s so rare to not have a “filler 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦” between twins.
‘It’s obviously a record I never set out to achieve. I do feel blessed that my family feels absolutely complete at such a young age.
‘Now we’ve just got to get married.’
Ms Gladstone always wanted another 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 after the 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡s of daughter Lillie, who weighed 5lbs 3oz and son Jayden, who weighed 5lbs 13oz, in April 2011 – and was delighted when she realised in January she was pregnant again.
Annie Gladstone turned 22 two weeks after non-identical twins Georgie and Frankiee (pictured) arrived just five minutes apart on September 10
The Royal College of Midwives say they have not heard of anyone in the country having two sets of consecutive twins at 21. Annie Gladstone and fiancé Rich Porter
The healthy new arrivals, who like their older siblings are non-identical twins, were 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 five minutes apart after a very short labour
But the couple’s joy turned to shock when they had the 12 week scan and were told they were expecting two new arrivals.
She said: ‘The shock took forever to get over. Rich went white and his jaw hit the floor.
‘But now they’re finally here, I wouldn’t change them for the world.
‘I mentally prepared myself for complete chaos at having four 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren under four, but luckily they are all very well-behaved – most of the time.
‘It has actually been a help having twins before because I knew what to expect second time round.’
The family-of-six live in Farnborough, Hampshire, where Mr Porter works as a warehouse manager.
The healthy new arrivals, who like their older siblings are non-identical twins, were 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 five minutes apart after a very short labour.
Ms Gladstone said: ‘The labour was very quick – just over one hour.
‘As soon as I saw them I fell completely in love. They are both absolutely gorgeous.
Annie Gladstone’s 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 bump is pictured left on August 10 – a month before giving 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 to a second set of twins. The couple were shocked when an ultrasound (pictured right) revealed they would be having a second consecutive set of twins
‘Frankiee looks just like Rich and Georgie looks just like me.
‘The midwife told us that since I’ve already done it twice, we’ve got a 50 per cent chance of having twins again.
‘I know there’s nothing wrong with us, we’re just probably a bit super fertile.
‘Obviously when I fell pregnant at 17 we weren’t using fertility treatment, and we definitely weren’t this time around.
‘We’ve decided no more after this.’
Mr Porter added: ‘We’ve got four girls in the family so Jayden and I are slightly outnumbered these days.
‘But he is going to be a brilliant big brother to them all.’
Jacque Gerrard, director for England at the Royal College of Midwives, said: ‘I have been a midwife for over 30 years and have never seen someone at such a young age have two sets of twins in succession like this.
‘As a mother of twins myself I know what she is going through and I wish her all the best.
Ms Gladstone always wanted another 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 – and was delighted when she realised in January she was pregnant again with Frankiee (right) and Georgie (left)
‘Women having twins and multiple 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡s are monitored closely throughout the pregnancy particularly when it is a teenage pregnancy.
‘The experience gained with her first set of twins was no doubt helpful when she gave 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 second time round.’
The family’s hectic routine is seeing her get through at least 20 nappies a day, and put on at least two loads of washing.
She said: ‘I have to follow a very structured daily routine otherwise I’d never get anything done.
‘We are all up before 5:45am most mornings.
‘Lillie and Jayden play while I get myself ready and then I get all four of them washed and dressed which takes about an hour.
‘At 7am I prepare Lillie and Jayden’s breakfast and while they are eating I feed the twins.
‘When everyone is finished I clean the kitchen and sterilise the bottles and put a wash on.
‘At 8:30am the oldest two are ready with coats, shoes, bags and packed lunches ready to go to nursery.
‘Then I’m home alone with the girls while Rich is at work.
‘The babies feed every three hours so a 900g tin of milk lasts us just three days.
‘It’s a bit mad, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.’