Cork woman who didn't realise she was pregnant gives birth to twin boys

The twin boys, named Cúan and Tadhg, were delivered via emergency C-section in CUMH last Thursday morning, coming as a surprise to all, particularly their mother, who was still on birth control and having regular periods.

One Cork couple could not believe their eyes when a precautionary doctor’s visit ended in them returning home with twin boys, despite having no idea they were expecting.

The twin boys, named Cúan and Tadhg, were delivered via emergency C-section in CUMH last Thursday.

The twin’s grandmother Sandra Coveney-Schulz described the whirlwind of emotions she felt as she heard the news she would become a grandmother to two new babies.

Ms Coveney-Schulz's son Cian rang her to inform her that his newly-wed wife Rebecca, had suffered heavy bleeding the night before and so had decided to take her to hospital, where they learned the news of her pregnancy.

Within an hour, Rebecca was brought in for an emergency C-section to give birth to her two babies.

The news came as a shock to family members, Ms Coveney-Schulz said, adding: "Panic then sets in because you've gone from the shock of her being pregnant to the shock of her having twins or triplets, to an emergency situation. You're always going to think something can go wrong,” she told 96FM's The Opinion Line.

The twin boys, who weighed 6 pounds each, were hidden from sight due to the positioning of the placenta, a midwife explained.

Thankfully, the twins were delivered safely and are in perfect health. The hospital had a team of 20 specialists on standby to cover all eventualities and step in if needed.

Only weeks previously, Ms Coveney-Schulz said her son had felt something in Rebecca's stomach whilst laying in bed, which resembled a stomach cramp.

"But sure, there were no stomach cramps. It was probably the baby moving,” she said.

The babies came as more of a surprise as Rebecca was still on birth control and having regular periods.

Ms Coveney-Schulz said her daughter-in-law had assumed she had put on weight since her wedding in September, saying: “She said to me, 'Oh my God, I must have put on about a stone since the wedding'. That's the last she said to me about it. She didn't seem to think it was all her stomach.” 

 The grandmother is delighted with the new additions, who returned safely home from the hospital on Tuesday, and are “absolutely beautiful”.

“We’re kind of in shock a bit because we knew there were no babies in the plan, they had other things they were planning. They were trying to get onto the property market. This had never even come into their scope,” she said.

The couple are now adjusting to life with two newborns with little preparation or maternity leave sorted.

“They didn't even have a nappy!” the twin’s grandmother added.