A mum born with two uteruses has welcomed twins after conceiving one baby through IVF in one womb and the other baby naturally in her other.
Doctors have described twins Cole and Nate as a one-in-50-million case after they were born on Monday, February 20.
Mum Madeline Kaklikos, 24, and her husband, Jon, 27, had 10 rounds of fertility treatment over three years.
Madeline's conceived one twin through IVF and the other spontaneously, with each developed in a different uterus.
Madeline, from Melbourne, Australia, discovered that she has a rare congenital condition called uterine didelphys - where a woman is born with two uteruses - when she and her husband began trying for a baby in 2020 without any success.
After thinking they were never going to fall pregnant, Madeline and John were so shocked but totally over the moon to learn that were actually expecting two miracle babies.
Madeline said: "After ten rounds of fertility treatment and years of trying to conceive, it never crossed our minds that we would fall pregnant naturally while undergoing IVF.
"In 2020, John and I started trying for a baby but after a while when nothing happened, we decided to get checked out to see if there were any problems.
"I'd already been diagnosed with PCOS in 2017, when I was 18, and knew it would be difficult to conceive.
"However, during an ultrasound to investigate further, it was discovered that I actually have two uteruses and I was diagnosed with uterine didelphys (UD).
"I was so worried that this would also have an impact on my fertility and prevent us from having kids. So my doctor suggested that we should try IVF.
"At our first egg collection in 2021, we got five that we were able to create two embryos with. They were placed into my more accessible uterus on my right side, but the embryos didn’t take.
"We kept trying, but by the time I had my eighth round, I was terrified we’d never have a baby.
"It was a dark time, and I really struggled to find hope.
"We tried another egg collection a few months later, where we were able to make 11 embryos. On our 10th round of IVF, this embryo eventually took and in June last year, our doctor called to give us the news that we were finally pregnant.
"I was with Jon, my parents and brother, at the time of the call, and we all erupted into screams and had tears streaming down our faces as we hugged."
Madeline and Jon went for their 10-week scan for what they thought was a singular baby.
However, the pair discovered they were actually expecting twins, with one baby the couple were expecting in one uterus and a second spontaneous baby in Madeline's second uterus.
She said: "Midway through my ten-week scan, the obstetrician looked surprised, and suddenly explained that she could see another baby and that we were having twins.
"However, one twin was in my second uterus. Jon and I looked at each other in total disbelief.
"The doctors explained to us that the chances of having one baby in one uterus and a second in the other were one-in-50-million.
"We also realised that they had been conceived at different times and in different ways. One twin was conceived through IVF, and the other was naturally conceived.
"The pregnancy was classed as high-risk, and our doctor said a second baby could risk everything.
"We were terrified, but we both agreed that both of our twins were meant to be, so continued with both pregnancies.
"The pregnancy went fairly smoothly and I felt very safe because I was under constant monitoring.
"I had a planned C-section because due to the wall that divides my uteruses and a blocked cervix, I wasn’t able to deliver naturally.
"However, we didn’t know how the C-section would go or how many incisions they’d need to make to get the babies out."
Madeline gave birth to her twins on February 20, at 34 weeks.
She says that she was petrified, but her husband kept her calm.
Madeline added: "In the end, doctors were able to deliver our beautiful twin boys, Nate and Cole, through one external incision.
"When I was able to hold my babies for the first time, I felt like my heart was going to explode.
"We only had 10 minutes before they were taken to special care, but it was everything I’d dreamed of.
"Being separated from them while they were on holiday was hard. I’d go to special care at 6 am and leave around 9 pm.
"Going home was heartbreaking, and I'd wake up every two hours to express breastmilk which was also tough, but I knew they were being cared for by amazing nurses.
"After 17 days in hospital, they were finally discharged and able to come home and be with us.
"Having newborn twins was hectic, but they’re three months old now and are doing well.
"We’re loving life as parents to our miracle twins."
