Jesy Nelson shares emotional story of becoming a mother to twins with SMA

In an emotional episode of the Great Company podcast, former Little Mix member Jesy Nelson spoke with host Jamie Laing about the realities of raising her twin daughters, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe, after they were diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

The singer, who has previously said motherhood was never something she imagined for herself, explained how her outlook completely changed. “I never wanted children, and then the universe gave me twins,” she told Laing. Although the pregnancy was unexpected, Jesy described an instant emotional shift, adding: “I felt butterflies... it made me the person I’ve always wanted to be.”

A Difficult Beginning

Ocean Jade and Story Monroe were born early at 31 weeks, resulting in a harrowing three month stay in hospital. Jesy described the birth as deeply distressing, explaining that she was put under during the delivery. “Everything was taken from me. You wake up, they’re not there... they’re in a plastic box and you can’t touch them.”

After relocating to Cornwall in search of a quieter life, it was Jesy’s mum who first noticed that something was not right, spotting limited movement in the twins’ legs. Although doctors initially advised against comparing premature babies, Jesy said her instincts eventually took over. “They are like rag dolls,” she said, describing the effects of the muscle wasting condition.

Raising Awareness

Jesy explained that SMA is a rare inherited illness that causes muscles to weaken and can result in fatal breathing complications, noting that without treatment many babies do not live beyond the age of two. After receiving a diagnosis that was 95 percent certain during a Zoom call, the family was sent to Great Ormond Street Hospital to begin urgent treatment.

She is now determined to use her voice to push for greater awareness and to see SMA included in the newborn heel prick test. While she admitted there are “good and bad days” when she feels overwhelmed and wants to cry, Jesy said her daughters give her extraordinary strength. “They’ve had to go through so much, and they’re still happy and smiling. What gives me the reason to be sad?”