Melody Chen: 'I Was Scared When I First Saw My Babies Because They Looked Dead'
The Singapore Women's Weekly|July 2019

Celebrity Melody Chen opens up on her rollercoaster journey to finally conceiving her twins, and then another uphill trek when they were born just shy of 27 weeks

Natalya Molok
Melody Chen: 'I Was Scared When I First Saw My Babies Because They Looked Dead'

It’s 11 am on a weekday and Melody Chen is exhausted.The former ONE FM deejay has just tucked her twins into bed for a nap. She has some alone time to herself before their eat-play-sleep routine begins again.At 22 months, the #Mezzaran duo – as Melody and actor-husband Randall Tan call them – are definitely a handful but their loving mum and dad wouldn’t have it any other way.

“They are our little miracles. It’s been a huge learning curve for us when they came into our lives. I don’t know how it feels with children of different ages but I think it may be slightly easier. Having twins is like having two different characters vie for your attention and affection at the same time,” says the new mum.

A MOTHER’S WISH

Melody, aged 42, and Randall, 45, had been trying for a baby since they married in 2008. They would have their first chance five years later, when Melody got pregnant in 2013. Sadly, their hopes of having a child then was dashed.

“It was a natural pregnancy but it didn’t last. I suffered a miscarriage and had to have it flushed out. At the time, it did put a strain on my marriage. We just had to work through it to really stay together,” she reveals.

“I just didn’t think having kids would be so challenging. After the miscarriage, we just let things be. We said ‘Let fate take its course’ and we decided that for now it would just be the two of us, travelling the world with our two cats for company.”

When Melody turned 40 in 2017, she decided to give pregnancy another shot. The couple turned to in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) in an effort to start a family.

“Randall had to inject me with all sorts of hormones for a month to retrieve my eggs. A normal woman would get 40 to 50 eggs I believe – I had two. After a whole month of jabbing, I only had two,” says Melody.

Esta historia es de la edición July 2019 de The Singapore Women's Weekly.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición July 2019 de The Singapore Women's Weekly.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE THE SINGAPORE WOMEN'S WEEKLYVer todo
The Singapore Women's Weekly

Ready To Zoom

Glow up and put your best face forward on video calls

time-read
1 min  |
August/September 2020
Caramel Eclairs
The Singapore Women's Weekly

Caramel Eclairs

Choux pastry is a French classic that transforms in the oven into airy puffs with a crisp exterior, ready to be filled and iced. It may seem a little daunting to make, but it’s easy with our step-by-step guide

time-read
2 minutos  |
August/September 2020
The Singapore Women's Weekly

Clear The Air

The quality of the air you breathe inside your home has a significant impact on your health. Here’s a look at managing indoor pollution

time-read
3 minutos  |
August/September 2020
How To Show More Compassion
The Singapore Women's Weekly

How To Show More Compassion

It’s an unhealthy habit that we often don’t realise we are doing. Ahead, some tips on how to show more compassion

time-read
1 min  |
August/September 2020
Resolving Conflicts
The Singapore Women's Weekly

Resolving Conflicts

Living in a digital age means that many of our social interactions are done online. However, reaching out and connecting with those around us is paramount, and even more so, with tough conversations. Ahead, experts share insights to help us navigate

time-read
7 minutos  |
August/September 2020
Mood For Mango
The Singapore Women's Weekly

Mood For Mango

Mango makes refreshing and satisfying sweet treats – perfect for relaxed entertaining

time-read
2 minutos  |
August/September 2020
The Singapore Women's Weekly

Dealing With The Unknown

If you’ve endured a few bumps and detours in the game of life, don’t be disheartened – these events might just make all the difference

time-read
7 minutos  |
August/September 2020
Our Different Butterflies
The Singapore Women's Weekly

Our Different Butterflies

Artist and art educator Saharra discusses the importance of art education as coping strategies for our young ones during these unprecedented times

time-read
3 minutos  |
August/September 2020
And Breathe
The Singapore Women's Weekly

And Breathe

The simple processes of inhaling and exhaling can aid sleep, beat cravings and reduce stress. A breathing expert explains how

time-read
5 minutos  |
August/September 2020
Great Women Of Our Time
The Singapore Women's Weekly

Great Women Of Our Time

Every year, we shine a light on 18 distinguished and powerful women in the Great Women Of Our Time Awards. They are women who are changing their field of work, and doing their best to improve life in Singapore – and the world.

time-read
10+ minutos  |
August/September 2020