After facing years of difficulty conceiving, Laura Guilliatt and Simon Robinson decided to try IVF. The couple couldn’t believe their luck when they discovered they were pregnant with not one, but two baby girls. On September 29, 2019, non-identical twins Freya and Caitlyn came into the world, but with a surprising twist – Freya was born with Down’s Syndrome, while Caitlyn was not. The chances of this happening with non-identical twins are incredibly rare, estimated at 14 in one million.
As the twins grew older, Caitlyn began crawling and walking before her sister. However, Caitlyn was determined to help Freya achieve the same milestones. Laura, their mum, shared how Caitlyn has been instrumental in supporting Freya to take her very first steps. “Caitlyn would be crawling and walking while Freya was a few months behind and was just bum shuffling,” Laura explains. “So Caitlyn took it upon herself to help Freya along. She would constantly come and take Freya’s hand to support her, it was lovely to watch.”
Caitlyn went above and beyond to assist her sister in walking. She would bring the baby walker over to Freya and walk behind her to make sure she was safe. “She totally mothered her, she still does it now,” Laura adds with a smile. Thanks to Caitlyn’s help and Freya’s determination, Freya actually started walking just before her second birthday. Laura believes that having Caitlyn by her side and watching her inspired Freya to keep up and strive to run around with her twin sister.
Looking back on their journey to motherhood, Laura recounts the struggles they faced with IVF. The couple had two embryos available for use after the procedure, as they weren’t suitable for freezing. To their surprise, both embryos successfully implanted, resulting in the pregnancy of twins. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until Laura reached the 20-week mark when an ultrasound revealed that Freya had extra fluid in her brain.
Laura reflects on the anxious period that followed: “We had a scan and it was mentioned that there could have been a chromosomal issue, but we didn’t opt for amniocentesis because of the risk of miscarriage.” Despite the reassurances they received, Laura’s pregnancy involved regular scans to monitor the twins’ progress. At 35 weeks, Laura had an emergency C-section, and the twins were taken to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for help with their breathing.
It was during this time that Laura learned there were concerns about Freya having Down’s Syndrome. She recalls the shock and overwhelming emotions she experienced when Simon, her partner, shared the news with her after checking on the girls in the NICU. The diagnosis was later confirmed three days later. Laura admits she didn’t know much about Down’s Syndrome and was terrified for the future.
However, Laura’s fears began to diminish as she started researching the condition and came across the Positive about Down’s Syndrome group. This support group provided her with valuable information and made her realize that Freya was just like any other baby, albeit with some additional challenges. Freya started receiving physiotherapy to help with her muscle development, and with Caitlyn’s regular acts of encouragement, she followed in her twin sister’s footsteps.
Freya and Caitlyn share a unique bond. While Freya is more laid-back, Caitlyn is the bossier one who occasionally scolds her sister. Laura adores hearing the girls giggle and babble away, knowing that they will be lifelong best friends. She is grateful that Freya will always have someone to look out for her in the future. Laura concludes, “They’re such funny girls and make us proud every day.”
