The parents of "miracle" conjoined twins have provided an update one week on from a successful separation surgery.
Babies Annabelle and Isabelle Bateson, who are just one in 2.5 million, were born safely six months ago. Parents Hannah and Dan Bateson, from Toomebridge in Co Antrim, first found out their daughters were conjoined twins in a 12-week scan last year.
The babies were attached from the chest to the pelvis and shared a bladder, bowel and a fused leg - but had separate hearts.
Read more: 'Miracle' conjoined twins separated following successful surgery
Last week, the couple revealed that the conjoined twins had been separated. They added: "There is a long recovery in front of them and we expect there to be some bumps along the way but they are strong wee ladies and are being well cared for."
The couple have now provided an update on week on from the surgery. In a post on social media, they said: "I can’t believe it’s been a whole week since the girls had their surgery.
"This week has been a complete blur, some ups and some downs, emotions all over the place but everyday is a step in the right direction.
"The staff were able to bring the girls together into the same bed for the first time today and we had our first cuddles.
"It hasn’t been easy but we hope that each day that passes the girls get more comfortable and feel less pain. Please continue to pray for healing and for their pain to ease."
The separation surgery had originally been planned for the end of May but was put back due to the illness and later delayed again because of staff holidays over the summer months until September.
Proud parents Hannah and Dan have been together for 14 years, married for six and have faced a tough road to becoming parents.
They have previously spoken of their struggle to conceive and how they were shocked when they first found out they were pregnant. Hannah was referred to London’s University College Hospital, where the babies were delivered by a specialist team.
From there, they were transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital, the leading specialist hospital in Europe for separating conjoined twins, where the operation took place this week.
Appearing on ITV's This Morning earlier this year, Hannah and Dan recalled the moment they found out they were having twins.
Hannah said: “The midwife kept it very very calm at that point she told us it was twins, but that we should see the consultant at the local hospital. We knew they were concerned but we were referred then to fetal medicine in Belfast.
“That’s when we were told [the twins were conjoined]. It never dawned on us that was going to be a possibility. As we were doing this scan, it dawned on both of us. Before the consultant even said and I asked, 'Are they conjoined?' and he said, 'Yes I think they are.'"
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