Bolton mum celebrates 'miracle' twins birth after contracting Covid

Claire Mcwhinnie from Westhoughton said the medics at the hospital saved her and her babies' lives after she caught Covid at the end of pregnancy term.

Claire said she spent most of her pregnancy since September, in and out of wards at Royal Bolton Hospital before she gave birth to her ‘miracle twins’ Louis William Hennefer and Florence Rose Hennefer on May 11.

The twins were born at healthy weights of just over 6lbs each, but the pregnancy journey was a worrying one for mum Claire, who contracted covid and developed high blood pressure before the birth.

Claire said: “Without the hospital we would not be here today. They kept a close eye on us.

“My journey to become a mummy has been difficult but when we got a shock surprise in September last year it filled me with hope.

”I’m 42 and never thought it would never happen. I was out with friends in Dublin for a 40th birthday party and when I came back, I felt ill.”

Claire was admitted to hospital with pre-eclampsia, a high blood pressure condition and again with a suspicious blood clot in December, which could have ended her life.

Later it was found, Claire had covid, which put her risk even higher, and she was moved wards.

She said: “The staff are outstanding and go out and above their duty of care I feel like the queen in there.

“I couldn’t have gotten through it all without taking on the lovely advice that they have told me along the way.

Claire with her babies

“Our consultant has been outstanding and is a credit I call him our king and I met a lovely midwife who’s care I was under.”

After suffering three miscarriages, Claire is happy to finally become a mum.

She said: “For me, these are my miracle babies. I have always wanted to be a mum, but I put my career first, so I never thought it would happen.

“I cried my eyes out and the staff have gone above and beyond for me, they really were so caring, and they deserve to know it.

“I hope one of my twins can work for the NHS one day.”