‘Zero chance of survival’: World’s most premature twins celebrate first birthday

A Canadian girl and boy, born over four months premature, celebrated their first birthday with a Guinness World Records (GWR) nod as the world’s most premature twins. The chances of the twins surviving were quite low.

When Shakina Rajendram went into labour after just 21 weeks and five days – over four months early – she was told that she would lose the pregnancy and nothing could be done to save her twins.

Her babies were “not viable,” doctors said. “Zero per cent chance of survival.”

Adiah and Adrial Nadarajah were born on March 4, 2022 at the gestational age of 22 weeks, or 126 days early — breaking by one day the previous record set in 2018 by American twins.

Most hospitals do not attempt to save babies born before 24-26 weeks.

Happy birthday to twins Adiah and Adrial, new record holders for being the most premature twins 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 pic.twitter.com/X2h5G5EQrZ

— Guinness World Records (@GWR) March 4, 2023

But these two are alive and kicking.

A photo of the twins sitting on a couch next to their GWR framed certificate shows Adiah looking surprised with her mouth wide open, while her brother Adrial appears pensive.