Jesy Nelson has opened up about her ‘heartbreaking’ time in NICU as she shared a sweet new pH๏τo of her newborn twins. 

After a high risk pregnancy, Jesy and her boyfriend Zion Foster confirmed the safe arrival of their baby girls at 31 weeks, sharing an Instagram post earlier this month dedicated to their daughters Ocean Jade and Story Monroe.

The former Little Mix star, 33, said she has felt ‘scared and overwhelmed’ as she addressed her ongoing experience in NICU. 

She penned: ‘Nothing or no one will ever be able to prepare you as a parent for NICU.

‘It’s the most scary overwhelming feeling of emotions not being able to feel like you can protect your babies. 

‘Naturally as a mother you just want to hold them and comfort them when they cry but you can’t because there are what feels like a million wires coming out of them and tubes and masks in the way with people poking and prodding them it breaks your heart into a million pieces. 

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Jesy Nelson has opened up about her ‘heartbreaking’ time in ICU as she shared a sweet new pH๏τo of her newborn twins

After a high risk pregnancy, Jesy and her boyfriend Zion Foster confirmed the safe arrival of their baby girls at 31 weeks, sharing an Instagram post earlier this month dedicated to their daughters Ocean Jade and Story Monroe

‘But slowly as the days go by and they get stronger and wires start to come away, moments like this feel like a dream.

‘Having them reunited for the first time ever today was the most magical feeling I will never be able to describe. The strongest little girls I’ve ever known who really do have the most inspiring story to tell’. 

Several fans were quick to take to the comments to send their well wishes and to tell Jesy she is ‘so brave and strong’. 

They wrote: ‘Such strong girls ❤️ All 3 of you!❤️ Sending love and strength to you four xxx; forever proud of you my darling. the most strongest & precious little angels; 

‘You’re so brave and strong. Sending all the love in the world your way. I’m so happy for you; Everyday that goes past you all get stronger and stronger. Everyone is so proud of you and your babies’.

Jesy has seemingly made a sweet nod to her former Little Mix bandmate when she revealed the unique names of her newborn twin daughters.

The singer took to social media, three days after giving birth prematurely, to reveal that her girls names were Ocean Jade Nelson-Foster and Story Monroe Nelson-Foster.

However, while it was ᴀssumed that the name ‘Jade’ was in tribute to Little Mix’s Jade Thirlwall, it appears that this isn’t the case.

The former Little Mix star, 33, said she has felt ‘scared and overwhelmed’ as she addressed her recent experience in NICU, she wrote: ‘Nothing or no one will ever be able to prepare you as a parent for NICU’

Several fans were quick to take to the comments to send their well wishes and to tell Jesy she is ‘so brave and strong’

Jesy had been in hospital since late March after being diagnosed with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). But she confirmed both girls were safe and well days after giving birth early [pictured earlier this month]

In fact, the truth behind the name is much closer to home, with Jesy actually naming her daughter after her older sister Jade, whom she is really close to.

A source told The Mirror of the moniker: ‘The names which have been chosen they came up with during their long stay in hospital over the last two months as they waited for the twins to grow bigger before they were born.

‘Jade was always going to be a middle name as Jesy is very close to her sister. It is a nod to her sister rather than anything else.’

Meanwhile, the publication confirmed that Jesy, partner Zion Foster and their baby girls were still in hospital following the birth and may be there for some time yet.

They shared: ‘They will definitely be in hospital a little longer yet but are just enjoying spending time with their babies. Jesy and Zion are so happy and thrilled the twins are here and have arrived safe and well.’

MailOnline have contacted representatives of Jesy for comment.

Jesy had been in hospital since late March after being diagnosed with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) – a rare condition that can put one or both babies at risk.

But she confirmed both girls were safe and well after taking to Instagram days after giving birth early.

Jesy revealed her babies’ adorable names to her 9.7million fans alongside sharing two sweet pictures of the couple cradling the newborns.

Jesy revealed her babies adorable names Ocean Jade and Story Monroe to her 9.7million fans alongside sharing two sweet pictures of the couple cradling the newborns

The couple paired Ocean with middle name Jade – also the name of one of her former band mates – which at the time was seen as a potential olive branch to her former friend [pictured in 2017]

However, the truth behind the name is much closer to home, with Jesy actually naming her daughter after her older sister Jade, whom she is really close to

She wrote: ‘So… Our beautiful baby girls decided to come at 31 weeks plus 5 days. It all happened so quickly, but we are so blessed that they are here with us, healthy and fighting strong! We’ve never felt more in love.

‘Everybody meet Ocean Jade Nelson-Foster and Story Monroe Nelson-Foster.’

The name Ocean, derived from the Greek word keanós, is often ᴀssociated with power and mystery, but can also be seen as a symbol of new beginnings and hope.

The couple paired Ocean with middle name Jade – also the name of one of her former band mates – which at the time was seen as a potential olive branch to her former friend.

Read More Jesy Nelson’s ex boyfriend Chris Hughes sends her a sweet message after the birth of her twin girls

Jesy famously quit and distanced herself from Jade Thirlwall, Perrie Edwards and Leigh-Anne Pinnock after she quit Little Mix in 2020.

Her choice of name for her second daughter Story draws a connection with creativity, imagination and adventure. It’s derived from Old Norse storr, meaning ‘large’ or ‘big’.

Her middle name Monroe is of Scottish and Irish Gaelic origin and is a gender-neutral name, meaning mouth of the River Roe, referring to a specific river in Northern Ireland. There’s also an edge of Hollywood glamour to it as Marilyn Monroe is naturally attached to the name.

In March, Jesy had to undergo an emergency procedure after suffering complications and was advised to remain in hospital until she was at least 32 weeks into her pregnancy.

Throughout the ordeal, Zion admitted he and Jesy, who was seven months pregnant at the time of her procedure, had ‘grown to understand each other on a deeper level’.

He told OK!: ‘I think it’s at these times when you really, really know what love you have and what your relationship means.

‘And I think for me and Jess, this has just taken it to a whole other level of us knowing we are literally made for each other.’

He said the couple had also tried to make the hospital as much of a home as possible.

‘There’s a couch that turns into a bed that we pushed next to the hospital bed, so we’ve made our own double bed.

‘And it’s like we’ve moved in. The nurses just said, “Oh, my God. It looks so nice in here. It looks so homely”.’

The couple revealed Nelson’s TTTS diagnosis in March.

Nelson later broke down in tears while revealing she needed surgery because her symptoms had worsened.

She explained: ‘Unfortunately, the symptoms have got worse so they now have to perform the procedure, which is obviously not what we wanted to happen but it’s necessary because it’s going to give our babies the best chance of surviving.

‘So we’re just waiting to go in and we’re just hoping and praying for the best really.

‘I feel absolutely gutted because I was really hoping we wouldn’t be in this position.

‘It’s obviously really scary because there’s so many things that can happen. Pray for us, please.’

Asma Khalil, Professor of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine at St George’s Hospital, University of London, recommends that families facing a similar situation to Nelson and her partner contact the charity, Twins Trust, for resources and support.

She said: ‘TTTS is a rare but life-threatening condition that affects 10 to 15% of identical twins that share a placenta (monochorionic twins).’

WHAT IS TWIN-TWIN TRANSFUSION SYNDROME?

Twin-twin transfusion syndrome is a rare but serious condition that can occur in identical pregnancies when twins share a placenta.

Abnormal blood vessel connections form in the placenta and prevent blood from flowing evenly between the babies.

One twin then becomes dehydrated, which affects its growth.

The other develops high blood pressure and produces too much urine.

This leads to an enlarged bladder and excessive amounts of amniotic fluid, which can put a strain on the twin’s heart, leading to heart failure.

Without treatment, TTTS can be fatal for both twins. 

The condition occurs in about around 15 per cent of identical twins who share a placenta, according to the charity Twins Trust. 

Around 300 twins die from the condition every year in the UK, while 6,000 babies are affected annually in the US.   

Draining excess amniotic fluid can help to improve blood flow.

If this is not enough, laser surgery is used to seal shut abnormal blood vessels and permanently disconnect them.

The surgeon then drains excess fluid.  

Even when treated successfully, most TTTS babies are born premature.

However, the majority go on to have long, healthy lives.

Source: Cincinnati Children’s hospital