Two mothers from County Durham are celebrating the arrival of their identical twin sons after a remarkable and challenging fertility journey that allowed them both to be biologically connected to their babies.
A Dream of Equal Parenthood
Holly Leighton, 26, and Emma Robinson, 34, from Peterlee, dreamed of becoming equal parents after falling in love at a charity music gig in 2018. As a same-sex couple, they were determined to explore the possibility of 'shared motherhood'. This process involves one partner carrying a pregnancy conceived using the other partner's egg.
"We hadn't heard of shared motherhood before we embarked on this journey together," explains Holly, a domestic abuse worker. "People are fascinated to hear how I was pregnant with Emma's biological babies. The fact that we have both been involved makes it incredibly special."
The couple knew that costly IVF treatment with no guarantee of success lay ahead. They worked extra hours and saved meticulously to fund their dream. They decided Holly would carry the baby using Emma's eggs, selecting an anonymous sperm donor whose physical characteristics resembled them both.
A Rollercoaster Pregnancy Journey
In March 2025, Emma had her eggs harvested, resulting in two quality embryos. One was implanted into Holly's womb at the London Women's Clinic in Darlington in April. After an agonising two-week wait, a pregnancy test revealed positive news, bringing the couple to tears of joy.
Their elation was shattered just five weeks later when Holly experienced bleeding. Hospital staff initially advised them to prepare for a miscarriage. "We couldn't stop crying, it was awful," Holly recalls. However, a scan at their fertility clinic delivered miraculous news: the single embryo had split, and Holly was carrying identical twins.
"We couldn't believe it," says Emma, a care assistant. "We had gone fearing the worst. Now we were being told we were expecting two babies. It was like a miracle."
Overcoming Challenges to Welcome Their Sons
The identical twin pregnancy brought heightened risks, including twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. The babies were closely monitored, and while they avoided that syndrome, Finley was significantly smaller than his brother Hudson and had a dangerously low heartbeat.
"It was devastating news," Emma admits. "The doctors told us to expect the worst. Finley might not survive." Holly also faced health struggles, including dehydration requiring hospital drips and gestational diabetes.
At 34 weeks, on 13 November 2025, severe pains sent Holly to North Tees Hospital. Scans showed concern for Finley's heartbeat, leading to an emergency caesarean delivery that same evening. Hudson was born weighing 4lb 4oz, and Finley a tiny 3lb 8oz.
Now, having enjoyed their first Christmas as a family of four, both mums are looking forward to 2026. "It feels amazing to be a family at last," Holly says. "It was a tough journey, but it has all been worth it. We feel like the luckiest mums in the world."
