Couple welcome two sets of twins exactly a year apart

Alisha Young, 25, and Connor Craster, 26, from Seaton Carew found they were pregnant with naturally conceived twins while she was in hospital about to have a hysterectomy. 

It was just months after Alisha was told she wouldn’t be able to conceive because she has endometriosis, and Lottie and Hattie were born on November 2, 2024.

Then Florence and William were born on their big sisters’ first birthday.

Children’s support worker Alisha said they felt “so happy and so blessed”

Connor Craster and Alisha Young, with their four children, Hattie (two), Lottie (two), Florence (one) and William (one) (Image: Charley Atkins / SWNS)

Alisha said: “I always wanted a big family and have always wanted to be a mammy. Finding out we were pregnant was such a shock but a huge blessing.

“I was absolutely gobsmacked. Then to be told it was twins was even more of a shock.

“We were so excited! Finding out we were pregnant again when Lottie had just come out of hospital was another huge shock.

“It was crazy – I didn’t know what we’d do. Once they were here our lives and family felt complete. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

Hattie (two), Lottie (two) (Image: Charley Atkins / SWNS)

Scaffolding operative Connor said: “Basically we’ve got quads. It was a shock but such a massive relief – we really did want to have children.”

Alisha suffered with painful and heavy periods, and pelvic pain, from a young age and was diagnosed with endometriosis.

Doctors said she risked losing her right ovary.

She said: “It’s very difficult with endo, you’re there’s always a lot of information to think about, options to explore, and decisions to make.”

Florence (one) and William (one) (Image: Charley Atkins / SWNS)

Alisha and Connor met while both working in a hospital in May 2022, and were engaged on November 5 2023.

Months later medics told Alisha she couldn’t have children, because of the severity of her endometriosis, and advised she have a hysterectomy.

But when she took the pregnancy test ahead of the op, in February 2024, Alisha discovered she was pregnant. An eight-week scan revealed twins.

Connor said: “I saw two circles on the screen. They were joined by a little line and it looked like a smiley face.”

Connor Craster and Alisha Young, with their four children, Hattie (two), Lottie (two), Florence (one) and William (one) (Image: Charley Atkins / SWNS)

The couple discovered they were expecting girls at 16 weeks, and the babies were due on December 27 2024.

Lottie, 4lb 2oz, was born at 5.07am, and, Hattie, weighing 3lb 14oz, was born at 5.40am, on November 2, 2024, and they spent 29 days in neonatal care.

Never expecting a second miracle, they did a pregnancy test after Connor noticed Alisha was craving ice – something she had done during her first pregnancy.

She did a test in April 2025 which came up positive.

A scan four weeks later revealed they were expecting twins again.

Connor Craster and Alisha Young, with their four children, Hattie (two), Lottie (two), Florence (one) and William (one) (Image: Charley Atkins / SWNS)

“We couldn’t believe it,” Connor said.

“The first time was so unexpected it just didn’t seem possible. We looked at each other with dropped jaws – we were told we couldn’t have any children and now we were about to have four.”

The babies were due on December 17, but Alisha went into labour on October 29.

When the labour didn’t progress her waters were broken on November 2 and 5lb 5oz Florence and 5lbs 3oz William were born six weeks early, at 2.15PM and 3.35pm, at North Tees Hospital.

Florence and William spent 14 days in neonatal care, in the exact same bed spaces as their sisters a year earlier.

Connor said: “It was just so lovely to see them.”

Connor and Alisha have help from their mums who both live near by.

The couple survive on a maximum of five hours sleep a night, and have all four children bathed, fed, and in bed, by 7.30pm.

Connor said: “I can’t say when the day starts, because the last one just doesn’t end.”

The couple had to trade in their Mitsubishi mirage for a Kia Caren.

The pair change 50 nappies in 24 hours – up to 30 for Lottie and Hattie, and 20 for Florence and William – costing about £18 a day on nappies.

Alisha said: “With four children routine is absolutely key. Making sure you stick to timings is the only way to get any time for yourself.

“When people say it takes a village to raise children it really does. We’re so lucky to have a great support circle.”