photo by: Contributed

After having to be delivered nearly 10 weeks early because they were at risk for serious complications, a rare type of identical twins are doing well and settling into their home in Lawrence.

Lawrence resident Alijah Kraus-McLaughlin delivered the twins by Caesarean section on Nov. 30, 2022, almost 10 weeks ahead of their Feb. 4, 2023, due date. Because the twins — whom Kraus-McLaughlin and her husband Justin McLaughlin named Winnie and Wyleigh — were so premature, they had to stay in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit for weeks until they could safely go home.

Kraus-McLaughlin said the twins progressed well and ended up being released to go home significantly earlier than the target date of their due date, with Winnie being released on Jan. 15 and Wyleigh on Jan. 21.

“They’re doing great — no problems,” Kraus-McLaughlin said. “They rocked the NICU.”

photo by: contributed

Alijah Kraus-McLaughlin and Justin McLaughlin are pictured with their twins Winnie and Wyleigh.

Known as monochorionic-monoamniotic twins, and sometimes called MoMo twins, they are extremely rare, representing 1% of identical twins and .1% of all pregnancies, according to information about the condition from Columbia University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Because the twins share the same amniotic sac and the umbilical cords are close together, entanglement of the cords is a serious threat, potentially resulting in blood flow being cut off and the death of one or both twins.

As the Journal-World previously reported, Kraus-McLaughlin had to be admitted to Overland Park Regional Medical Center at only 25 weeks so the twins could be constantly monitored. Ultimately, a twist in one of their umbilical cords raised enough concern that doctors decided to have them delivered early. The twins initially had to be hooked up to breathing and feeding tubes, and Kraus-McLaughlin said they could not be released from the hospital until they were able to eat on their own without having issues, such as their heart rates dropping.

photo by: contirbuted

Winnie, the daughter of Lawrence residents Alijah Kraus-McLaughlin and Justin McLaughlin.

Kraus-McLaughlin said everyone in the family, including the twins’ 3.5-year-old brother Weston, are happy to finally have the twins home. She said Weston has been great with his baby sisters and loves holding them both. Overall, she said having the twins and a toddler at home has been a big adjustment, but rewarding.

“It’s very overwhelming and exhausting, but it’s also exciting and amazing,” Kraus-McLaughlin said. “It’s just fun to watch them together.”

photo by: contributed

Winnie, Weston and Wyleigh McLaughlin are pictured in this family photo.

Though the twins are almost 3 months old, they are still only about a month out from their due date, and Kraus-McLaughlin said their care is still that of newborns. That means a full schedule of diaper changes and feedings, including frequent nighttime feedings. Kraus-McLaughlin said she manages to mostly keep them on the same eating and sleeping routine, which allows her to get about five hours of sleep per night, but they occasionally will wake on alternate schedules.

“Sometimes they like to do it separately, and they think that’s funny,” Kraus-McLaughlin said. “They still eat every three to four hours at night to keep up that weight.”

Kraus-McLaughlin said the twins, who each weighed less than four pounds at birth, were both up to around 10 pounds at their doctor’s appointment last week. For her part, Kraus-McLaughlin, who previously worked at a dentist office, is also transitioning to be a stay-at-home mom. She said it really wasn’t worth going back to work with the cost of child care, so their family is also adjusting to being a one-income household. The twins did manage to do their parents one big favor. Kraus-McLaughlin said that although they are completely identical, Wyleigh — thankfully — came out with a birthmark on her ear that Winnie doesn’t have.

And though they are still very young, the physical closeness the twins had as they grew in the same amniotic sac seems to have continued. Kraus-McLaughlin said they prefer to be touching and like to sleep right next to one another. She said she looks forward to watching their relationship grow as they get older.

“I love seeing them together, and I’m so excited to see them grow up and start interacting more with each other,” she said.

Kraus-McLaughlin said she is sharing updates on the twins on a Facebook page she created for them, MoMo McLaughlin Twins Updates.

photo by: contributed

Wyleigh and Winnie McLaughlin are pictured in this family photo.

photo by: contributed

Winnie and Wyleigh McLaughlin are pictured in this family photo.