Miracle Multiples: The Astonishing Story of a Woman Who Gave Birth to a Son and Daughter Just 3 Weeks Apart

There is no need to worry about contraception during pregnancy, but pregnancy is still possible. This is called pregnancy during pregnancy (hyperfertility). This means that while a fetus is already in the uterus, a new egg is fertilized and another fetus is created and grows together.

It’s rare, but it actually happens. In 2008, there were less than 10 cases of ‘pregnancy during pregnancy’ reported, and several cases have been reported since then, so let’s look at a few cases.

First, in 2020, Rebecca Roberts, then 39 years old, learned that there was another fetus in her stomach during an ultrasound at 12 weeks pregnant. The two children were estimated to have been conceived about three weeks apart, and Rebecca gave birth to son Noah and daughter Rosalie on September 17, weighing 2.1 kg and 1.1 kg, respectively. Noah, who was conceived first, was born healthy and discharged after receiving treatment at the hospital for three weeks, while Rosalie was transferred to a large hospital and was discharged after being hospitalized for 95 days.

Kara Winhold from Texas, USA, suffered three miscarriages before becoming pregnant again in March 2021 while already pregnant. The two children were conceived a week apart, but were born six minutes apart.

There are also rarer cases. Diona Fletcher found out she was pregnant in the spring of 2020. However, soon after, I felt pain in my abdomen, so I had a second ultrasound and found out that I was pregnant with twins in addition to my first child. The children were born as triplets on the same day. The doctor explained that he seemed to have ovulated twice.

How is it possible to get pregnant while pregnant?

How is it possible to get pregnant again while pregnant? “Under normal circumstances, when a woman becomes pregnant, several processes occur that make further pregnancies almost impossible,” Dr Deepali Misra-Sharp, a British general practitioner (GP), told British media outlet Metro. Basically, when you become pregnant, progesterone and estrogen levels rise significantly, preventing the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which are necessary to trigger the release of eggs from the ovaries, and suppressing ovulation. Additionally, a mucous plug may form at the entrance to the cervix, preventing sperm from entering the uterus during pregnancy. The explanation is that this mucus plug acts as a physical barrier. However, in ‘pregnancy during pregnancy’, this process is not carried out effectively.

“In rare cases, if hormonal suppression fails to completely stop the reproductive cycle, it is possible for pregnancy to ovulate again,” said Dr. Misra-Sharp. “A second egg may be released from the ovary and, if sperm are available, fertilize this new egg.” “I can do it,” he explained. Pregnancy then occurs when the embryo implants in the uterus alongside the already growing baby. It is ‘pregnancy during pregnancy’.

Pregnancy during pregnancy is different from twin pregnancy.

According to Dr. Misra-Sharf, the pregnancies are medically unusual and distinct from twin pregnancies. Twins’ eggs are fertilized at the same time, but during pregnancy, eggs are released and fertilized at different times, usually several weeks apart.

Generally, it can be discovered through an ultrasound examination, and the different stages of development of the fetus can be visually confirmed. In most cases, a single fetus is noticeably small. This is because there is a difference in the number of weeks of pregnancy. On the other hand, in the case of twins, even if there is a difference in size, this is usually a growth issue.

There are risks such as premature birth and intrauterine growth restriction.

As in the cases above, there are cases where two or three children are born healthy, but there are also risks. Even if pregnancies occur at different times, they usually give birth at the same time. This is because once labor begins, the uterus cannot remain pregnant. The problem is that the two fetuses are at different stages of development. In other words, because the second baby is born prematurely, the baby may be born with problems such as breathing difficulties, feeding difficulties, and low birth weight. However, Dr. Misra-Sharp said babies born after 34 weeks usually have good outcomes with proper care and treatment.

Another problem may be that the growth of the second fetus within the womb may be restricted. Since the first fetus is already established, the second fetus is at a disadvantage in terms of nutrients and space, which can lead to complications such as intrauterine growth restriction.

Miscarriage or premature labor are also areas of concern. Because having two pregnancies at the same time can put a strain on the uterus, it is more common to have a cesarean section rather than a natural birth. If you have received infertility treatment that induces multiple ovulation, your chances may be slightly higher. The chance of becoming pregnant during pregnancy may increase in women who have delayed implantation of the first embryo or who ovulate frequently or unpredictablely.

Even with these potential risks, there is nothing to worry about. First, pregnancy during pregnancy is a very rare event, as pregnancy itself usually acts as a natural contraceptive. However, according to Dr. Misra-Sharf, sperm can survive in the vagina for up to seven days after intercourse.

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Reporter Ji Hae-mi (pcraemi@kormedi.com)

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