14/5 - The 24 Weekers

“Twins are in the supermarket. They’re in the playground. They’re everywhere.”

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Elaine Gregersen was 24 weeks pregnant when her waters broke.

Having endured sickness throughout her high-risk pregnancy, she and husband Mark had not suspected anything sinister was happening when she appeared to be suffering from bladder weakness too. 

After a traumatic 24 hours in the maternity ward, the Gregersens were faced with the reality that their twin boys, Henry and Blake, were unlikely to both survive beyond the neonatal unit.

In this interview with Olly, they share their story. 

Content warning: intense experience, infant mortality.

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Elaine and Mark - the first time they held Blake.

Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart investigates if, following the Coronation of King Charles III, Republican sentiment is trending upwards.

What path is there for Royal refuseniks to achieve their desire for an elected UK Head of State?

Thanks to columnist and commentator Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, Ollie unpicks the arguments monarchists put forward - and rewrites the National Anthem whilst he’s at it…

If you have a trend you’d like to challenge Ollie to investigate in a future epsiode, fill in the Feedback form.

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Alix gets engaged! April 2023.

Elsewhere, in the Foxhole, Alix Fox - high on life from some Personal News - answers your sex questions: this month, from a Mannfan whose girlfriend burst into tears when he called her a ‘whore’ in the missionary position.

Is there a way to recover his mojo? Must he apologise for overstepping the mark? And how should you do ‘pillow talk’ - whilst respecting your partner’s boundaries?

With the help of sex educator Lola Jean and playwright and storyteller Cameryn Moore, Alix has the answers!

If you have a question of sex you’d like Alix to answer, fill in the Feedback form. You can remain anonymous if you wish.
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Our record of the month is ‘Letter To Myself’, something peppy and fun from Leigh’s The Lottery Winners featuring Frank Turner👇

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… And we’ll see you again on June 10th!

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Support organisations: Elaine and Mark recommend Sands, supporting anyone affected by the death of a baby; and the Twins Trust Bereavement Service, supporting all parents and carers of twins, triplets or more who’ve died. 

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Posted on May 10, 2023 and filed under Season Fourteen.