Twiblings: How one couple welcomed two babies four months apart after a long IVF journey
After years of heartbreak and failed fertility treatments, Rohan and Kate Silva's dreams of expanding their family finally came true — not once, but twice — in just four months.
The couple, who had endured 20 gruelling IVF procedures, experienced a breakthrough in Oct 2023 when Kate became pregnant.
But their family's remarkable journey didn't end there. Just weeks after learning about her pregnancy, they also proceeded with a surrogacy arrangement in the United States — leading to the rare phenomenon known as twiblings: siblings born within weeks or months of each other.
Their path to parenthood had been fraught with difficulty, including the devastating loss of their newborn daughter, Zola, in 2022 due to prematurity. What could have been four children remained at three, with eldest son Jozef, six, now joined by two more siblings born within the same year.
Despite initially feeling hesitant about her pregnancy news, Kate and Rohan decided to move forward with their plans for surrogacy. The result was two children born four months apart — a phenomenon famously experienced by celebrity couple Chrissy Teigen and John Legend.
For the Silvas, their twiblings were born just 17 weeks apart. Their story resonated widely, with many parents sharing similar experiences.
Kate, who was already breastfeeding her newborn, was able to nurse the surrogate-born baby immediately. Photo : Instagram
Their surrogate, Ava, a 34-year-old married mother of three from Mississippi, carried their embryo, transferred at a clinic in Los Angeles. She gave birth to the Silvas' baby on November 19, while Kate delivered their other child on July 24.
The family travelled to Mississippi to be present for the birth, standing by Ava and her husband, Joe, in the delivery room.
'After our baby was born, Ava was crying with joy, Kate was crying with joy. We have pictures of them holding hands through the whole procedure,' Rohan shared in an interview with The Times, as reported by People.
Kate, who was already breastfeeding her newborn, was able to nurse the surrogate-born baby immediately. Interestingly, they've chosen not to disclose which child came from the surrogate.
'I'm keen to talk about surrogacy, but for our babies, I think it's their right to talk when they're old enough about how they were born and conceived,' Rohan explained.
The couple also addressed concerns they had faced from others. 'Some people did say to us, can you trust a surrogate? But then you meet the people that step forward to do this for others and you realise it's a kind of vocation for them,' he added.
Rohan, a former senior policy adviser to ex-UK prime minister David Cameron, also spoke out against the stigma surrounding surrogacy, calling for greater understanding of the diverse ways families are formed today.
'We should just be glad that there's another loving family in the world,' he said. 'Families can come together in different ways — blended families, mixed families — and surrogacy is just one of those ways.'
While twiblings is shorthand for twin siblings, it doesn't necessarily describe biological twins. Sometimes called Californian twins, the term also reflects California's prominence as a global hub for surrogacy services, backed by world-class clinics and progressive reproductive laws.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sinar Daily
a day ago
- Sinar Daily
Hael Husaini's first solo concert set for Aug 8
Known for his powerful vocals, Hael revealed that the show will feature several prominent guest stars including Dayang Nurfaizah, Nadeera, Wany Hasrita and Nabila Razali. 22 Jun 2025 06:00pm Hael Husaini announces that he will be holding his first solo concert 'Konsert Hael Husaini & Repertoire' on Aug 8. Photo: Instagram @haelhusaini SINGER-COMPOSER Hael Husaini surprised his fans by announcing that he will be holding his first solo concert 'Konsert Hael Husaini & Repertoire' on Aug 8. In a statement recently, the Rocketfuel Entertainment star said the concert, which will take place at Zepp Kuala Lumpur, promises to be a unique blend of art, fashion and emotion. Known for his powerful vocals, Hael revealed that the show will feature several prominent guest stars including Dayang Nurfaizah, Nadeera, Wany Hasrita and Nabila Razali. "This concert will not only showcase a selection of my greatest hits over the years but will also feature new musical arrangements, cinematic visuals, guest performances and exclusive fashion displays reflecting my own aesthetic evolution. "I want fans to not just listen to the songs but also experience my journey, feel my emotions and witness my creative side, from music and visuals to fashion,' he said. Hael Husaini announces that he will be holding his first solo concert 'Konsert Hael Husaini & Repertoire' on Aug 8. Photo: Instagram @haelhusaini Hael added that he hopes fans leave the concert feeling inspired, fulfilled and proud to have been a part of the night. Since entering the music scene, Hael has made a name for himself as a two-time consecutive winner of 'Anugerah Juara Lagu' with iconic songs such as 'Jampi' and 'Haram' (a duet with Dayang Nurfaizah). He has also helped shape the local music landscape with his creative touch as a songwriter for popular artistes. Among his most celebrated compositions is 'Anta Permana', performed by Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza. The song went on to become a fan favourite in Malaysia and was also honoured internationally when it was chosen by British Monarch King Charles III for the royal playlist 'The King's Music Room' on Apple for 'Konsert Hael Husaini & Repertoire' can be purchased at with prices ranging from RM258 to RM588. - BERNAMA
Sinar Daily
a day ago
- Sinar Daily
Maher Zain to perform in Malaysia as part of Southeast Asia Tour
Known for his spiritually themed songs such as 'Insha Allah', 'Baraka Allahu Lakuma' and 'Thank You Allah', Maher is also expected to perform his latest works 'Qalbi Fil Madinah' and 'Rahmatun Lil'Alameen' during the tour, which is organised by Tengku Abdullah Foundation (YTA). 22 Jun 2025 02:00pm Maher said he is very excited to return to Malaysia for this special concert and to entertain fans who have long awaited his comeback. - maherzainofficial/Instagram KUALA LUMPUR - Lebanese-Swedish singer and composer Maher Zain is set to hold a concert tour in Southeast Asia, including stops in Malaysia and Singapore this August, marking his return to the region after a six-year absence. The Southeast Asia Tour 2025 will see Maher, 44, perform at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Aug 16, The Star Theatre in Singapore on Aug 21 and Dewan Canselor at Universiti Malaysia Sabah in Kota Kinabalu on Aug 23. Maher said he is very excited to return to Malaysia for this special concert and to entertain fans who have long awaited his comeback. - maherzainofficial/Instagram Known for his spiritually themed songs such as 'Insha Allah', 'Baraka Allahu Lakuma' and 'Thank You Allah', Maher is also expected to perform his latest works 'Qalbi Fil Madinah' and 'Rahmatun Lil'Alameen' during the tour, which is organised by Tengku Abdullah Foundation (YTA). Maher said he is very excited to return to Malaysia for this special concert and to entertain fans who have long awaited his comeback. "Malaysia represents a very important chapter in my career, perhaps even more so than any other country. Only a handful of artistes can say that a country has played such a major role in shaping the start of their musical journey,' he said during a recent virtual press conference with local media. Meanwhile, YTA senior management representative Dr Mohd Afiq Farhan Md Hanif said the concerts serve as a platform to convey messages of love, unity and hope that transcend cultural and community boundaries. "At YTA, we believe in the importance of nurturing a society that appreciates the arts, positive expression and noble values. This concert is not just about music but also about spreading messages of compassion, resilience and hope beyond the stage,' he more information about the concerts and ticket sales, please visit - BERNAMA
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Stephen Chow cuddles up to Carina Lau in new photo; is there a new movie collab?
Just the fact these two Hong Kong legends are hanging out together is good news. Photo: Carina Lau/Instagram Hong Kong filmmaker Stephen Chow is back in action, gearing up for his first movie in nearly six years. Late last year, he announced plans to direct Shaolin Women's Soccer , his first project since 2019's The New King Of Comedy . Naturally, famous old friends are rallying behind him – including actress Carina Lau, who co-starred with Chow in the 1996 hit Forbidden City Cop . Lau recently posted a photo of the two on Instagram, sparking both nostalgia and speculation. In the picture, Chow leans his head on her shoulder and wraps his arms around her, while Lau smiles brightly and gives a thumbs-up. She captioned it with a famous line from Forbidden City Cop (1996), Sin Chew reported:'Aren't you hungry? I'll cook you some noodles to eat!' The affectionate post set fans abuzz – not just because of the throwback vibes, but because of what Lau was wearing: a white jersey printed with the logo for Shaolin Women's Football . Could this be a subtle hint that Lau is joining the cast of Chow's upcoming film after their last collaboration almost 30 years ago? Fans are hopeful. A scene from 1996 movie Forbidden City Cop starring Stephen Chow and Carina Lau. Photo via Sin Chew
