Twins born two years apart after 'extra special' IVF treatment

Oliver and Isaac were conceived at the same time through IVF

Charlie Atkin
Wednesday 20 April 2016 13:21 BST
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Family celebrates second twin's arrival - two years after the first

A family is celebrating the arrival of twins - who were born two years apart.

Oliver Best, two, and his new-born brother Isaac are considered twins after being conceived at the same time through IVF and from the same batch of embryos.

Their parents, Rachael and Richard Best, decided to freeze two embryos after the birth of their first child. Both were put back in last year and one of them took, leading to the birth of Isaac.

The Bests had been trying for a child for four years and had already gone through six attempts at IVF before she became pregnant for the first time.

On the seventh cycle, full-time mother Rachael gave birth to 7lb 6oz Oliver in March.

The 35-year-old said: "We tried naturally for four years to no avail, then we went through a year of different tests and it came back as unexplained infertility which was devastating because we didn't know what was wrong.


 Oliver (L) and Isaac (R) are twin brothers, although born two years apart
 (PA Video)

"We started the gruelling process of IVF. We had six rounds which resulted in a culmination of either it worked and I miscarried early on or it failed."

The couple then had a "last-ditch attempt" which resulted in Oliver, with a further cycle leading to the birth of brother Isaac nearly two years on, weighing 8lb 9oz.

Most twins share a birthday and Oliver and his brother were close as Isaac was due on March 22. But he ended up arriving five days early and is settling well in the family home in Leicester.

Mrs Best said: "They were born two years apart almost to the day, it's really extra special.

"He's sleeping fantastically and Oliver is brilliant with him.

"It's really surreal because they are two years apart, but when I look back at photos of Oliver at Isaac's age you really notice the resemblance in them, it's quite amazing.”

Additional reporting by Press Association

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