A mum of super rare twins with dwarfism tells them they're beautiful every day so they will be ready to face "inevitable bullying" when they go to school."

Latanya Gilbert, 30, had no idea that her twin babies had achondroplasia - the most common cause of dwarfism - until the day they were born.

Ivy and Eva, now three, were unable to hold up their own heads for a year because their necks and bodies were so small in comparison, and were still barely speaking at 18 months old.

They had physical, play, occupational and speech therapy so they would grow up to be as capable as possible.

Latanya and her husband, Evan Tucker, 38 - also parents to Ava, ten, Evan Jr, four, and Jayce, three months, none of whom have dwarfism - say they're aware when their daughters start school bullying will be "inevitable" because Ivy and Eva look different."

But the mum is "on a mission to normalise and raise awareness" of dwarfism and won't let it hold her daughters back."

Mum-of-five Latanya, a early childhood educator, who lives in Raeford, North Carolina, US, said: "When they were born, it was an extreme shellshock for us."

"They had large heads and short limbs at birth but we had to wait six months for the genetic tests to say what sort of disorder they have."

"The early stages were extremely trying because we couldn't sit them upright to feed them because they couldn't hold their heads up."

"But things got easier when they started the therapy - they're still in it now."

"There are still a lot of medical things we are monitoring and there are some things they need help with, or do differently."

"But I am quite good at figuring out a way for them to do things so they don't miss out - they can do just about everything every other child can do aged three."

Latanya and gave birth to Ivy at 3lbs and Eva at 5lbs on September 20, 2020, at 35 weeks at Womack Army Medical Center.

She and Evan, a retired military paratrooper, both did genetic tests as they assumed one of them must have been a genetic carrier.

But after both their tests came back negative, they were informed the dwarfism had come as a result of a random genetic mutation while they were in the womb.

They both needed feeding tubes and ventilators for the first few weeks.

The little girls were unable to hold their heads up to begin with, because of how large they were in proportion to their tiny bodies.

Latanya said: "Ivy used to lay on her back in a bridge scooting on her head rather than crawling."

"It was hard for them to feed because they couldn't hold their head up to sit in a chair."

"I would have to lie each one in my lap so I could hold their head with my hand while I fed them. It was extremely trying."

Both children started physical therapy and then speech therapy when they reached 18 months as they "only knew about 10 words" because of their delayed development."

Over time they became more capable although they still suffer with sleep apnea and hydrocephalus, particularly Eva, who needed to have a lumbar puncture in January to help relieve pressure in her brain.

But as the surgery didn't work, she will need to have a shunt inserted into her brain in the future to relieve the hydrocephalus.

Latanya has also installed adaptations in their home and daycare - such as extenders for the tap handles so they can still use normal sinks despite their shorter arms.

The only things the twins aren't able to do are wipe their bottoms due to their short arms, and ride a typically proportioned bike due to their short legs.

Latanya said: "There are some things they can't do but I've raised them to be independent - they actually don't like the fact they need help."

"They can do almost everything a three-year-old can do."

"They can speak and communicate like normal three year olds, they eat and play like every other child their age."

"The only thing that's difficult is when their big brother and sister go out and ride their bikes, which they can't do."

"But I'm quite good at figuring a way around things so they don't miss out - I just haven't figured that one out yet."

Latanya said she is "on a mission" to show her daughters - and the world - that their difference won't hold them back."

"We live in a world where people think 'if you don't look like me, you're freakish or there's something wrong'," she said."

"Bullying for them may be inevitable but I want them to be able to combat it."

"We tell them every morning they're pretty - I want to give them affirmation so when they hear negatives they will be resilient."

"I want them to think 'that mean thing isn't true, because my mummy tells me I'm beautiful every day'."

And Latanya wants to show the world that little people should be accepted and not treated differently for looking different.

She said: "I want the world to be more accepting of people who are not like them, just because someone isn't your height or colour or size."

"If I don't speak the way you communicate, I'm not any less of a person."

"Everyone deserves love and respect and acceptance."

"I want the world to accept any kids that are different."