After weeks of speculation - and one false alarm - the babies are now on their way.
Jolie checked in to the maternity unit at the Lenval Hospital in Nice, near the South of France home she shares with partner Brad Pitt.
A spokesman for the hospital said the 33-year-old actress was doing well and was not expected to give birth immediately.
"There's no urgency. It's been planned for a long time," the spokesman said. "She's very well. Everything is fine."
Jolie made her last public appearance at the Cannes Film Festival in May, when she appeared heavily pregnant. Her co-star Jack Black claimed the babies were due in August.
A bidding way is already under way for the first pictures of the twins, with reports that the eventual price could top $20 million.
The Hollywood couple would likely donate any money to charity, as they did for pictures of their daughter, Shiloh, in 2006.
Earlier this week they announced a $1 million donation to help child victims of the war in Iraq.
Jolie and Pitt moved to the South of France several months ago and have made their home in the hamlet of Correns, in the Provence region.
In addition to Shiloh, the couple have three adopted children: Maddox, six, Pax, four, and Zahara, three.
At the end of May, rumours swept the internet that Jolie had given birth, with reports even naming the twins as Isla Marcheline and Amelie Jane.
US television proramme Entertainment Tonight claimed that a source inside the delivery room had confirmed the story - but it later turned out to be a hoax.
Wednesday, 2 July 2008
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
AHN News - Woman Gives Birth To Five Babies In Three Minutes
Houston, TX (AHN) - A Texas couple has given birth to quintuplets at a Phoenix hospital nationally known for its successful multiple-birth deliveries. Three girls and two boys, who are expected to debut in Houston in August, were delivered last Thursday to 33-year-old mother Ellen Howell.
Doctors at the Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center delivered the five babies via elective caesarean section within three minutes of each other. Though they arrived nine weeks early, each weighed about two pounds and appear healthy.
However, the babies were immediately placed in the neonatal intensive care unit, where they are expected to remain for the next few months before heading home to Houston. They are the couple's only children.
The boys' names are Mitchell Thomas and Luke Harrison. The girls' names are Sidney Alun, Ivy Elizabeth and Briellen Jeanette. Ellen Howell's husband, Stephen is a technical sales representative and will return to work in Houston on Monday. The couple rented in suburban Phoenix until the babies are released.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, quintuplet births are rare. There were just 68 births in 2005 that involved five or more babies. It is the tenth set of quintuplets been born at the Phoenix hospital.
Doctors at the Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center delivered the five babies via elective caesarean section within three minutes of each other. Though they arrived nine weeks early, each weighed about two pounds and appear healthy.
However, the babies were immediately placed in the neonatal intensive care unit, where they are expected to remain for the next few months before heading home to Houston. They are the couple's only children.
The boys' names are Mitchell Thomas and Luke Harrison. The girls' names are Sidney Alun, Ivy Elizabeth and Briellen Jeanette. Ellen Howell's husband, Stephen is a technical sales representative and will return to work in Houston on Monday. The couple rented in suburban Phoenix until the babies are released.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, quintuplet births are rare. There were just 68 births in 2005 that involved five or more babies. It is the tenth set of quintuplets been born at the Phoenix hospital.
romow - Dairy Products May Increase Your Chances Of Having Twins
Many couples planning on having a baby are completely happy with the idea of having a single birth. But, there’s many couples that would love to be able to have twins, if you’re one of those couples, then this may be good news.
Just making some changes in your diet may help increase your chances of having twins! A study has shown that women who consume dairy products are 5% more likely to give birth to twins than those who don’t.
The study was conducted by Gary Steinman, MD, PHD, a physician at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York. The study published at Bio-Medicine.com included 3 categories of women, those who were vegans, vegetarians and those who consumed animal products.
His findings were that the women who consumed animal products on a regular basis, especially dairy products were 5 times more likely to have twins than women who abstained from eating any animal products.
The chances of you having twins can be attributed to the level of IGF found in your body. The higher your levels of IGF, then the more likely that your little bundle of joy will come in a pair! IGF increases ovulation and thus your chances of having twins are increased.
IGF or Insulin-like Growth Factor is a protein released from the liver. In response to growth hormones the animals liver releases IGF which is then transferred through the blood and into it’s milk.
Since 1975 the instances of twin births have steadily increased in the USA. One reason for the increase may be that lots of women are waiting until later in life to have babies. The chance increases when a woman reaches 30 and there is even a greater chance for a woman that’s over 35.
Another reason for the increasing number of twin births could be attributed to the introduction of growth hormone treatments given to cows. This practice was started in the 1990’s to improve the production rate of milk and promote larger cows for more meat.
Having twins doesn’t come without risks, twins are more likely to be premature and have congenital defects. So, if you live in a country that allows cattle to be given growth hormones, you may actually want to limit your intake of animal products prior to trying to conceive.
Of course, drinking more milk won’t insure your chances of having twins. Multiple births are also results of heredity, if there’s twins in your family tree then your chances are automatically increased.
Women getting pregnant while on birth control pills are also more likely to produce twins. The increase of hormones from birth control pills seems to raise the possibility of more than one egg being released during ovulation.
Fertility treatments and ethnicity also play important roles in multiple births. Women of African descent have higher levels of IGF and more instances of twin births, while women of Asian or Hispanic decent have lower levels of IGF and are less likely to have twins.
A previous study Dr. Steinman had conducted showed that if a woman becomes pregnant while breastfeeding, then it’s 9 times more likely that she’ll give birth to twins.
No matter what you’re hoping for, a healthy diet and visiting a gynecologist early in pregnancy can give your baby a better chance for a healthier beginning. They’re both very important factors in your health and your baby’s health.
Just making some changes in your diet may help increase your chances of having twins! A study has shown that women who consume dairy products are 5% more likely to give birth to twins than those who don’t.
The study was conducted by Gary Steinman, MD, PHD, a physician at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York. The study published at Bio-Medicine.com included 3 categories of women, those who were vegans, vegetarians and those who consumed animal products.
His findings were that the women who consumed animal products on a regular basis, especially dairy products were 5 times more likely to have twins than women who abstained from eating any animal products.
The chances of you having twins can be attributed to the level of IGF found in your body. The higher your levels of IGF, then the more likely that your little bundle of joy will come in a pair! IGF increases ovulation and thus your chances of having twins are increased.
IGF or Insulin-like Growth Factor is a protein released from the liver. In response to growth hormones the animals liver releases IGF which is then transferred through the blood and into it’s milk.
Since 1975 the instances of twin births have steadily increased in the USA. One reason for the increase may be that lots of women are waiting until later in life to have babies. The chance increases when a woman reaches 30 and there is even a greater chance for a woman that’s over 35.
Another reason for the increasing number of twin births could be attributed to the introduction of growth hormone treatments given to cows. This practice was started in the 1990’s to improve the production rate of milk and promote larger cows for more meat.
Having twins doesn’t come without risks, twins are more likely to be premature and have congenital defects. So, if you live in a country that allows cattle to be given growth hormones, you may actually want to limit your intake of animal products prior to trying to conceive.
Of course, drinking more milk won’t insure your chances of having twins. Multiple births are also results of heredity, if there’s twins in your family tree then your chances are automatically increased.
Women getting pregnant while on birth control pills are also more likely to produce twins. The increase of hormones from birth control pills seems to raise the possibility of more than one egg being released during ovulation.
Fertility treatments and ethnicity also play important roles in multiple births. Women of African descent have higher levels of IGF and more instances of twin births, while women of Asian or Hispanic decent have lower levels of IGF and are less likely to have twins.
A previous study Dr. Steinman had conducted showed that if a woman becomes pregnant while breastfeeding, then it’s 9 times more likely that she’ll give birth to twins.
No matter what you’re hoping for, a healthy diet and visiting a gynecologist early in pregnancy can give your baby a better chance for a healthier beginning. They’re both very important factors in your health and your baby’s health.
Monday, 30 June 2008
dailymail - Twins sent to different primary schools a mile apart as council refuses to consider their 'special bond'
They have been side-by-side since before birth, and have so far done everything together.
But on their first day at school, Connor and Brad Terry might have to go it alone, after authorities ordered the three-year-old twins to attend different primaries.
Connor was given the last remaining place at their mother Samantha's first choice of school, and his brother has to go to a school one mile away.
Separated at three: Samantha Terry's twins Brad and Connor will start school in September but have been put in different schools
Miss Terry, 40, is battling to overturn the decision she fears will 'devastate' the small boys. Born 24 minutes apart, Connor and Brad are virtually inseparable. Their mother said: 'I was on hot coals waiting to hear where the boys would be placed in their first schools.
'I wouldn't mind not getting my first choice - but to read they would go to completely different schools - I just thought there was some mistake.
"I chose that school because the boys go to a nursery on the same complex.
"For pure continuity reasons I wanted the children to go there, plus it is an excellent school, I just assumed they would notice the boys were twins."I don't think that is too much to ask. Maybe I was naive but I just thought the education authority would realise they had two boys with the same surname, address and date of birth.
"Connor is very dependent on people and routine and set ways, Brad is a little more independent, I don't know how this would affect their emotional growth.
'When I was told it was not a mistake I was horrified. I cannot consider the consequences of separating the twins at such a tender age.'
Single mum Samantha wanted both Connor and Brad to go to Wainscott Primary School in Medway
Miss Terry, of Rochester, Kent, says there was no space on the application form to note a child is one of a twin pair. As a result Connor and Brad - who she wants to go to Wainscott Primary School, in Medway - were processed separately.
Connor claimed the last place while Brad was assigned to Hilltop Primary School, a 15-minute walk away.
Miss Terry, an accountant who also has a son of 20, said: 'I cannot be in two places at the same time.'
She must attend an appeal later this month to contest Medway Council's decision.
Keith Reed, chief executive of the charity, the Twins and Multiple Births Association, warned of the dangers of separating the twins.
He said: 'During the early years, there tends to be a strong bond between twins, triplets or higher multiples and separating them against their will could potentially have a negative impact on their behavioural and emotional development.'
"Other local authorities have introduced simple measures to overcome these difficulties, such as calling multiple birth families to explore their choices prior to formally sending out the results.
"Clearly the council needs to reconsider how its application process impacts on multiple birth families and seek to make improvements.
"If it feels that it is tied by legislation then it should raise the problem with the relevant Government Minister - but doing nothing is inexcusable."
Torn: Connor got the last place at Wainscott Primary, while Brad has been ordered to go to Hilltop Primary School, which is a 15-minute walk from his brother
A Medway council spokesman said the 30 places at Wainscott Primary were filled according to guidelines for over-subscribed schools.
These give priority to children with older siblings already at the school, and to those who live closest.
Brad was 31st on the list, and to give him a place 'would have denied another child with a right to a place', the spokesman said.
'The circumstances are extremely rare, and changing the application form to indicate twins or multiple births would not have prevented the same outcome,' he said.
But on their first day at school, Connor and Brad Terry might have to go it alone, after authorities ordered the three-year-old twins to attend different primaries.
Connor was given the last remaining place at their mother Samantha's first choice of school, and his brother has to go to a school one mile away.
Separated at three: Samantha Terry's twins Brad and Connor will start school in September but have been put in different schools
Miss Terry, 40, is battling to overturn the decision she fears will 'devastate' the small boys. Born 24 minutes apart, Connor and Brad are virtually inseparable. Their mother said: 'I was on hot coals waiting to hear where the boys would be placed in their first schools.
'I wouldn't mind not getting my first choice - but to read they would go to completely different schools - I just thought there was some mistake.
"I chose that school because the boys go to a nursery on the same complex.
"For pure continuity reasons I wanted the children to go there, plus it is an excellent school, I just assumed they would notice the boys were twins."I don't think that is too much to ask. Maybe I was naive but I just thought the education authority would realise they had two boys with the same surname, address and date of birth.
"Connor is very dependent on people and routine and set ways, Brad is a little more independent, I don't know how this would affect their emotional growth.
'When I was told it was not a mistake I was horrified. I cannot consider the consequences of separating the twins at such a tender age.'
Single mum Samantha wanted both Connor and Brad to go to Wainscott Primary School in Medway
Miss Terry, of Rochester, Kent, says there was no space on the application form to note a child is one of a twin pair. As a result Connor and Brad - who she wants to go to Wainscott Primary School, in Medway - were processed separately.
Connor claimed the last place while Brad was assigned to Hilltop Primary School, a 15-minute walk away.
Miss Terry, an accountant who also has a son of 20, said: 'I cannot be in two places at the same time.'
She must attend an appeal later this month to contest Medway Council's decision.
Keith Reed, chief executive of the charity, the Twins and Multiple Births Association, warned of the dangers of separating the twins.
He said: 'During the early years, there tends to be a strong bond between twins, triplets or higher multiples and separating them against their will could potentially have a negative impact on their behavioural and emotional development.'
"Other local authorities have introduced simple measures to overcome these difficulties, such as calling multiple birth families to explore their choices prior to formally sending out the results.
"Clearly the council needs to reconsider how its application process impacts on multiple birth families and seek to make improvements.
"If it feels that it is tied by legislation then it should raise the problem with the relevant Government Minister - but doing nothing is inexcusable."
Torn: Connor got the last place at Wainscott Primary, while Brad has been ordered to go to Hilltop Primary School, which is a 15-minute walk from his brother
A Medway council spokesman said the 30 places at Wainscott Primary were filled according to guidelines for over-subscribed schools.
These give priority to children with older siblings already at the school, and to those who live closest.
Brad was 31st on the list, and to give him a place 'would have denied another child with a right to a place', the spokesman said.
'The circumstances are extremely rare, and changing the application form to indicate twins or multiple births would not have prevented the same outcome,' he said.
Friday, 27 June 2008
gazette and herald - Triplets split up by a change of schools
BUSY mum Debbie Sawyer is full of apprehension once again as her triplets start secondary school.
The Gazette has followed the trials and tribulations of Charlotte, Katherine and Eddy since they were born in 1997.
The 11-year-olds are now preparing for their secondary education in September.
Mrs Sawyer, 46, of Sheldon Road, Chippenham, said: "The last time we did a piece for the paper was when the triplets were just starting Ivy Lane Primary School, which seems like a lifetime ago.
"The past six years have flown by and I cannot believe I am getting ready to wave them off to school again.
"We have had a very busy six years and the triplets have really developed into their own characters.
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"We never really planned for triplets - we just wanted a fourth child, and that child turned out to be three instead of one.
"I think the triplets are really looking forward to secondary school, just not as much as the summer holiday stretched out before them."
Mrs Sawyer has three more children - Harriet, 13, Georgina, 15 and Martin, 16.
The triplets are not going to the same secondary school.
Charlotte and Katherine will go to Hardenhuish with Georgina and Harriet and Eddy will go to Sheldon with Martin.
Mrs Sawyer said: "This will be the first time in their lives that they will go their separate ways - but it has been totally their choice.
"I said they could have full control over which school they wanted to go to and this is what they have chosen.
"I think our family was the first to have six children at the same school at the same time when they were all at Ivy Lane.
"All of my children are so widely different and I think the fact that the triplets are not identical really helps."
Mrs Sawyer, who works as a carer at the Bluebell Lodge care home, and van driver husband Colin, 49, admit that their lives are far from peaceful but they say they would not want anything to change.
Mrs Sawyer said: "We are one big happy family and I think the fact that the children don't have to attend the same school and remain so close speaks volumes.
"I am proud of all my kids and they are a credit to me."
The Gazette has followed the trials and tribulations of Charlotte, Katherine and Eddy since they were born in 1997.
The 11-year-olds are now preparing for their secondary education in September.
Mrs Sawyer, 46, of Sheldon Road, Chippenham, said: "The last time we did a piece for the paper was when the triplets were just starting Ivy Lane Primary School, which seems like a lifetime ago.
"The past six years have flown by and I cannot believe I am getting ready to wave them off to school again.
"We have had a very busy six years and the triplets have really developed into their own characters.
advertisement
"We never really planned for triplets - we just wanted a fourth child, and that child turned out to be three instead of one.
"I think the triplets are really looking forward to secondary school, just not as much as the summer holiday stretched out before them."
Mrs Sawyer has three more children - Harriet, 13, Georgina, 15 and Martin, 16.
The triplets are not going to the same secondary school.
Charlotte and Katherine will go to Hardenhuish with Georgina and Harriet and Eddy will go to Sheldon with Martin.
Mrs Sawyer said: "This will be the first time in their lives that they will go their separate ways - but it has been totally their choice.
"I said they could have full control over which school they wanted to go to and this is what they have chosen.
"I think our family was the first to have six children at the same school at the same time when they were all at Ivy Lane.
"All of my children are so widely different and I think the fact that the triplets are not identical really helps."
Mrs Sawyer, who works as a carer at the Bluebell Lodge care home, and van driver husband Colin, 49, admit that their lives are far from peaceful but they say they would not want anything to change.
Mrs Sawyer said: "We are one big happy family and I think the fact that the children don't have to attend the same school and remain so close speaks volumes.
"I am proud of all my kids and they are a credit to me."
keighleynews - Twins tragedy leads to fundraising effort
A childminding group has rallied round to raise money in memory of twin baby boys who tragically died before they were born.
Childminder Audrey Sands has raised money for the Sands charity (no connection) after a mother in the group lost her twins to a rare condition.
Janine Newman, from Keighley, found out that her identical twin babies were suffering from Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) four months into her pregnancy and by eight months both her sons had died. The syndrome meant the babies shared a single placenta, which can restrict the blood supply to one baby.
Ms Newman said: "I had lots of surgery to try to sever the links so that they could be independent but it wasn't successful.
"I lost one of the babies before Christmas, which I had to keep carrying for the sake of the other one, which I lost in January two weeks before he was due to be born." Ms Newman then had to go through the trauma of giving birth to the twins in hospital. During that difficult time, the group began raising money for the Sands charity - which supports people affected by the death of a baby - by holding a competition to guess the weight of two new-born babies in the group.
Ms Sands showed parents a picture of mothers Michelle Atkins and Emma Buckley when they were pregnant and asked them to guess what weight and gender the babies would be when they were born. Mrs Atkins's baby girl, Lottie Lou, weighed 9lb 6oz, and Mrs Buckley's baby, Ellie May, weighed 7lb 9oz. Altogether the group managed to raise £53 for the charity.
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Ms Newman, who has a five year-old son Ben, said she was touched by the gesture.
She and her partner, Andrew Grant, named the twin boys Cameron and Finlay.
Anyone who would like to donate to the Sands charity can visit uk-sand
Childminder Audrey Sands has raised money for the Sands charity (no connection) after a mother in the group lost her twins to a rare condition.
Janine Newman, from Keighley, found out that her identical twin babies were suffering from Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) four months into her pregnancy and by eight months both her sons had died. The syndrome meant the babies shared a single placenta, which can restrict the blood supply to one baby.
Ms Newman said: "I had lots of surgery to try to sever the links so that they could be independent but it wasn't successful.
"I lost one of the babies before Christmas, which I had to keep carrying for the sake of the other one, which I lost in January two weeks before he was due to be born." Ms Newman then had to go through the trauma of giving birth to the twins in hospital. During that difficult time, the group began raising money for the Sands charity - which supports people affected by the death of a baby - by holding a competition to guess the weight of two new-born babies in the group.
Ms Sands showed parents a picture of mothers Michelle Atkins and Emma Buckley when they were pregnant and asked them to guess what weight and gender the babies would be when they were born. Mrs Atkins's baby girl, Lottie Lou, weighed 9lb 6oz, and Mrs Buckley's baby, Ellie May, weighed 7lb 9oz. Altogether the group managed to raise £53 for the charity.
advertisement
Ms Newman, who has a five year-old son Ben, said she was touched by the gesture.
She and her partner, Andrew Grant, named the twin boys Cameron and Finlay.
Anyone who would like to donate to the Sands charity can visit uk-sand
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