Twins measured in the womb using the world’s first twin pregnancy growth charts have been welcomed into the world.

Mala Vast Dhuri gave birth to boys Kiaan and Kush, weighing 2kg and 2.1kg respectively, by caesarean section at St George’s Hospital in Tooting.

The charts, which could save “hundreds of tiny lives”, mean twins can be accurately measured in the womb so health professionals can instantly recognise whether they are growing appropriately.

Previously, as only singleton charts were available, it was difficult to tell whether the babies were just small or suffering growth abnormalities.

This resulted in babies being born prematurely out of fear there was something wrong, putting parents through unnecessary stress and newborns at risk.

Dr Asma Khalil, who delivered Mala’s twins and helped develop the charts, said: “The benefits of the twin growth charts would be to reduce the number of babies needing neonatal care after birth.

“About 50 per cent of multiple birth babies need some form of special unit treatment once they’re born but with these new twin growth charts we’re hoping to reduce that statistic considerably.”

The £25,000 research project is years in the making and was funded by twin parents across the country thanks to a huge fundraising appeal by multiple births charity Tamba (Twin and Multiple Births Association).

Mala, 37, and her husband Kiran Dhuri, 42, greeted the identical little ones on Thursday morning.

The now mother-of-two said: “I’m over the moon to finally meet my gorgeous little boys, thanks so much to the St George’s team for ensuring the safe arrival of my babies.”

Tamba CEO Keith Reed said: “Huge congratulations to Mala and Kiran. We are so pleased to see the boys delivered safely.

“We hope the whole family enjoy those precious early days with Kiaan and Kush.

“This is an extremely important day for fetal medicine.

“Mala was the first mum to have her twin babies measured using the twin pregnancy growth charts. We hope these charts help many more twin babies to thrive.”