Bizzare Facts

Twins are defined by their togetherness; we expect them to arrive within minutes of each other. However, biology sometimes breaks the rules. The world record for the longest interval between the birth of twins is a staggering **87 days**. The case occurred in Ireland in 2012 with twins Amy and Katie Jones-Elliott.

Their mother, Maria, went into labor prematurely at just 23 weeks and 5 days. She gave birth to **Amy** on June 1, 2012. Amy was tiny and required immediate intensive care. But then, something miraculous happened: Maria's contractions stopped. The doctors advised that since the second baby was still safely inside the amniotic sac, it was better to keep her in the womb to develop further.

Maria remained in the hospital on bed rest for nearly three months. Finally, **Katie** was born on August 27, 2012—**87 days** after her sister. Both girls survived and are healthy today. They are twins who were born in different seasons, a medical marvel that challenges our basic understanding of what a 'multiple birth' actually means.