Astonishing photos show birth of second most premature twins babies ever to survive

The parents of the second most premature twins babies ever to survive have released astonishing pictures showing how tiny and fragile the newborns were.

Tracey Hernandez and Anthony Hope were told their twin girls would have zero chance of survival after being born at just 22 weeks in December.

But little Makayla and Makenzie Pope, born in their amniotic sacs weighing 1lb and 1lb 3oz, defied medics after spending four months in neonatal intensive care at Duke University Hospital in North Carolina, US.

They were so tiny, the sisters were branded "micro-premmies" - and only survived because they were able to breathe alone outside the womb.

Doctors told Tracey and Anthony if the babies were unable to breathe alone after birth, they were too small to endure resuscitation.

Now the parents are looking forward to bringing their daughters home next month.

Speaking to the Metro, Tracey said: 

I am so lucky and I know it’s an absolute miracle. I feel blessed. It has been a long and draining journey so far but we are nearly there and the end is so close now.

They have both amazed me and they continue to amaze me. They are a blessing and I am so proud to call myself their mom.

Makayla and Makenzie are the second smallest twins in the world to survive, after Keeley and Kambry, from Iowa, were born at 22 weeks and one day.

 Tracey's aunt Susan is raising money for the family, you can donate at her GoFundMe page.

Susan said:

My niece, Tracey Hernandez and family, had an unexpected early delivery of her precious identical twin girls at 22 weeks, Makenzie and Makayla (lovingly called the M&M twins) on December 08, 2019.

These micro preemies were born weighing 1lb 1oz and 1lb 3oz. As you can imagine, everyone was filled with joy upon their arrival but also with the uncertainty of their survival.

They are currently on the ventilator and have had multiple severe diagnosis that they are currently fighting. The M&M twins are 7 weeks old and have been in the NICU for 50 days.

They have a very long, tough, and uncertain road ahead.