Although the likelihood of multiple pregnancies has increased by 72% from 1980 to 2018, it is still quite rare. Out of 1,000 births, approximately 33 are multiple births.
What is the possibility of identical twins? Out of 1,000 births, about three or four end up with identical twins. So, again, it’s a pretty rare event.
When 23-year-old Savannah Combs found out she was expecting twins, she was very happy. Then she found out another rarity: both babies have Down syndrome.
Of course, it was emotional news. Savannah and her husband, Justin Ackerman, knew some people would judge them and their children because of the condition.
But to Savannah, it makes them incredibly precious.
‘It’s a very rare condition, but they are my little jewels,’ she told News4JAX.
Savannah, from Middleberg, Florida, shared her postpartum journey with her daughters, Kennedy Roux and Mackenley Ackerman, on TikTok, where they quickly gained followers.
Savannah revealed that she was told to terminate the pregnancy because the babies wouldn’t survive.
She decided to keep them and give them a fighting chance.
When she found out both daughters had Down syndrome, her husband was just at training camp.
Savannah was 29 weeks pregnant when she went into the hospital and gave birth to her daughters. Identical twins, Kennedy Roux and Mackenley Ackerman, were born on 12 May 2021.
The twins arrived two months premature, so they had to spend several weeks in the intensive care unit before they couldn’t go home.
‘They are called mono-di twins. When separation occurs on day 4-8, the foetuses share a placenta but develop in separate shells,’ she said.
‘Mono-di twins, as such, are very rare. And if you add Down syndrome, it’s one case in two million.
Despite their rare condition, Savannah believes they are just like any other children.
‘They have feelings. They have a heartbeat. They can talk. They know how to do the things you do. They will get there,’ she said.
‘Like I said, maybe they’re a little behind, but they’re going to make it. I’ve learned that these kids are temperamental and happy.’
As the kids continue to mature new milestones, Savannah shares their cute updates on TikTok.
‘I will give them notions that they are just like us and they will achieve anything if they just put in the effort,’ she said.
However, some people feel the need to criticise Savannah and her family. As a result, the young mum has had to respond to comments from really insensitive users on social media.
‘I wouldn’t want children like that; if mine were born like that, I would immediately put them in an orphanage,’ one person wrote to the mother.
However, Savannah had the perfect response, which she shared on Facebook.
I said it’s a good thing they weren’t born to you, but to me. God knew what He was doing when He gave these children to the right parents who would love them no matter what.’
Beautiful girls. Anyone who says otherwise is just evil. These children are the most precious and loving people!
