Before Jasmine gave birth to entangled twins, she knew all the risks. However, it was only when doctors saw the knotted cords that she realized just how much danger her babies had been in.

When one mom delivered a set of entangled twins, she knew the stakes were high. However, it wasn’t until after the birth that she realized just how at risk her babies had been. And her doctor’s face said it all.

Like most couples, Jasmine and her partner were delighted when they found out they were pregnant. And when they learned they were expecting twins, they were even more overjoyed. But little did they know the complications they would face.

Early into her pregnancy, doctors noticed something a little unusual about Jasmine’s babies. Not only were they twins, but they were also developing in the same amniotic sack. This made them monoamniotic – or “MoMo” twins.

MoMo twins are one of the rarest kind of twins. According to the National Institutes of Health, every 1 in 10,000 pregnancies in the U.S. is monoamniotic. These pregnancies face a number of risks with and require relentless medical monitoring. However, even with attention, MoMo twins’ survival rates are between 81 and 95%.

One of the biggest risks to MoMo twins is cord entanglement. Because they share the same amniotic sac and placenta, the two fetuses develop practically on top of one another. And with no amniotic membrane to separate them, it’s easy for their umbilical cords to intertwine.

“Umbilical cord entanglement can lead to the death of one or both of the fetuses,” Dr. Philip Diamond from Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Center explained. “As they grow, the babies move a lot and the cords can get tangled. Have you ever walked two dogs on separate leashes? This is very similar.”

To some extent, tangled umbilical cords is a feature of most MoMo pregnancies. And unfortunately, for Jasmine hers was no different. She soon discovered her babies’ cords had tangled, which left her unborn babies vulnerable to a whole host of risks.

One major risk is cord compression. In MoMo pregnancies it is possible for one twin to actually crush the other’s cord. This prevents the flow of vital nutrients and blood to the baby and can even result in death.

Cord entanglement also poses a risk during delivery itself. The resulting knot can cause one twin to get stuck in the birthing canal in labor. Naturally, then, Jasmine and her partner were worried about what their pregnancy had in store.

Footage from one hospital appointment revealed the mom-to-be praying from her bed. “Please say a little prayer for our ultrasound today,” she said in the video by Sharp HealthCare. “Last time Baby B had the cord around her neck.”

Furthermore, because doctors considered her pregnancy to be high-risk, Jasmine would need to give birth early. This itself presented medical staff with a challenge. Premature babies are smaller and are more likely to have underdeveloped organs.

But thankfully, Jasmine was in safe hands. Prior to giving birth, she spent 12 weeks at the Perinatal Special Care Unit (PSCU) at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital in San Diego California. There, she built up a relationship with staff and patients. As a result, she could lean on them when things got difficult.

When the time came, medical staff took Jasmine in for a routine caesarian section. However, her babies weren’t out of the woods yet. “One or both babies dying can happen very quickly,” gynecologist Philip Diamond revealed.

However, thankfully, everything went to plan. Jasmine’s first baby came out with a healthy squeal. Then, she was quickly followed by her (slightly) younger sister who was also full of life, despite her tiny size.

Due to her surgery screen, Jasmine couldn’t see any of the action unfolding. But someone kept her up to date with photographs on a smart phone. And she was happy to learn that her girls were doing well and breathing on their own.

Indeed, it was a miracle considering the state of their umbilical cords. Because it was only once the twins were born that doctors could see the true extent of the entanglement. “It’s amazing how tangled the cords were,” one of her doctors remarked in the operating theater.

After surgeons completed their operation on Jasmine, she was finally able to meet her babies for the first time. And Sharp HealthCare captured the heartwarming moment on camera. In the emotional footage, the mom can’t help but smile as her twins are laid contently on her chest.

And it was a moment that was savored by all those involved. Jasmine looked down lovingly at her daughters while her partner snapped pictures on his phone. Meanwhile, even the nurse commented that it felt, “Good [for Jasmine and the twins] to see each other for the first time.

Following their birth, the twins spent five weeks in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The unit is the largest of its type in the San Diego area. So once again, the babies were in the best possible place.

Jasmine finally got to take her babies home in August 2015. There, they could start living their life having won one of the biggest battles a tiny baby can face. And thanks to the care they received, they are now looking at life as healthy individuals who won’t be defined by their time in the womb.