Miracle twins born five years apart after being conceived on the same day

Twins conceived on the same day were born five years apart and "look completely different" from one another thanks to a miracle medical procedure.

Siobhan Rigby, 36, and her husband Vincent, 37, welcomed their first daughter Charlotte seven years ago after undergoing five rounds of In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). Charlotte, despite being born an only child, was one of several children Siobhan and Vincent conceived during the IVF process.

The couple, from Ipswich in Suffolk, were left with 10 embryos, all of whom are technically twins as they were created at the same time. But Charlotte didn't get to meet any of her prospective siblings until she was five.

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Noah, two, was born from one of the embryos the pair had frozen, but despite being essentially a fraternal twin to Charlotte, the two look nothing alike. Siobhan, a community nurse, said: "They are totally different. They look completely different. They are just like normal siblings."

Siobhan added the fact that their "twins" were born five years apart leaves people "amazed" whenever it is brought up. She added: "Technically they are twins but five years apart. When I explain it people are amazed."

Siobhan and Vincent knew their journey to have children might be difficult when Vincent was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 23 - just eight months after their wedding. He underwent four rounds of chemotherapy to shrink the 20cm tumour and had it removed in August 2012. He has been cancer-free since January 2013.

They were told the chances of conceiving naturally, and even with IVF, could be slim in the future. In 2015, the couple started IVF - and were able to get five rounds on the NHS.

Siobhan had two miscarriages - one at six weeks and one at eight weeks - before her fifth and final try. They found out they were pregnant in November 2017 and Charlotte was born on July 30, 2018, weighing 8lbs 10oz.

Siobhan said: "I was very anxious. I never believed it until she was in my arms. It was pretty amazing. I cried when she came out." The couple decided to save their remaining 10 embryos in case they wanted more children in the future.

They felt the time was right when Charlotte went to school, and after some persuasion from their young daughter. Siobhan said: "When she went to school we felt she needs a sibling. She kept asking. It felt like I was letting her down." The decision was expensive, however, as they had to pay £3.5k for the transfer - and Siobhan worked overtime to be able to save up for it.

They fell pregnant on their first attempt in October 2022. Siobhan said: "I was just amazed that it had worked first try." Noah was born weighing 9lbs 10oz on June 30, 2023.

Siobhan said: "It was a wonderful experience." The siblings now "argue and fight" like siblings but are "healthy" and "thriving".

Siobhan added: "Charlotte is very much like me - head strong and practical. Noah is very logical - and very like his dad." Siobhan now wants others to keep hope in their fertility journeys. She said: "Keep going, keep hoping and keep faith it will work."