Episode Details

What happens when your twins arrive at 31 weeks… and you don’t get to take them home?

In this episode of All At Once, we’re joined by Chontel Duncan — mum of five, fitness entrepreneur, and twin mum — who shares her experience of going from three young kids to five, navigating high-risk pregnancies, premature birth, and six weeks in the NICU with twins. 

From being separated from her twin babies at birth, to walking out of hospital without them, to later having to perform CPR on her own child — this is a deeply honest conversation about the realities of early motherhood when things don’t go to plan.

We talk about advocating for your babies, making high-pressure medical decisions, feeding choices, and learning to trust your instincts — even when no one else is listening.

In this episode, we cover:

• A high-risk twin pregnancy and premature birth at 31 weeks
• What NICU life is really like as a parent
• Leaving hospital without your babies
• A medical emergency no parent expects
• Navigating feeding choices and external pressure
• Returning to fitness postpartum in a realistic way
• Managing five young children, business, and mental load

If you’re navigating a high-risk pregnancy, NICU, or life with multiples — this episode will make you feel less alone.

This episode is sponsored by Good Choices. If you're exploring childcare or early learning options, download the Good Choices Toolkit at firstfiveyears.org.au. It's designed to help parents feel more confident when choosing an early learning centre, with practical guidance on what to look for, questions to ask on centre tours and what quality early learning looks like. The toolkit helps you choose an early learning centre that's right for your family. Download it at firstfi

Follow along for the raw, unfiltered reality of raising multiples.

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