Register to receive a comprehensive compilation of the top viewpoints from the past week in our Voices Dispatches email newsletter.
to receive the latest news and updates from our community
Join our community and subscribe to our free Voices newsletter to stay updated with the latest news and updates.
A woman from Alabama is recording her exceptionally uncommon situation of having two uteruses and being pregnant in both.
Kelsey Hatcher, age 32, has a medical condition known as uterus didelphys, where a person has two uteruses. According to the news agency AFP, this rare condition is estimated to impact approximately 0.3 percent of women.
The pregnant woman, who shared her experience on Instagram, stated that the chances of her having a pregnancy in each of her uteruses were extremely rare, at 1 in 50 million.
She posted pictures on Tuesday of “soft ultrasound images from the previous day” of the two babies in her womb.
“The girls successfully completed their BPP ultrasound this week! The results were excellent and the technician even complimented them as ‘all stars’!”
“Isn’t their appearance adorable? Do you think they will resemble each other? I have a feeling they will be completely unique,” she stated.
Research indicates that uterus didelphys occurs during the development of the embryo.
During the development of an embryo, the uterus typically forms from two ducts known as the Müllerian ducts, which eventually merge to create a single womb.
In certain uncommon instances, this merging does not occur and those affected may possess two uteruses.
Individuals who have the condition may not realize that they possess two uteruses.
It appears that this is the situation with Ms. Hatcher.
For her initial Instagram upload, she revealed that she was aware of her condition when she was 17 years old.
Ms Hatcher shared that she discovered she was pregnant with twins in May, but there was a surprise element involved.
She stated that she was always told that if she could get pregnant, she would likely experience preterm labor or miscarriage. However, she has had three full-term pregnancies, with two of them being 41 weeks long. She credits God for defying the odds.
“During our unexpected 4th pregnancy ultrasound, it was revealed that I am carrying a baby in both of my uteruses.”
“We were pleasantly surprised! The first ultrasound was full of laughter,” shared the mother of three.
Individuals diagnosed with uterus didelphys may require additional attention during childbirth.
Currently, Ms. Hatcher’s doctors have categorized her pregnancy as “low risk” but her delivery as “high risk.”
“She stated that they have already begun reading case studies of women who have given birth with the same type of uterine anomaly as mine. They will be well-prepared when the time comes.”
The woman, who is 32 years old, expressed her desire to have a natural delivery if feasible. However, she is willing to undergo a Caesarean section if it is medically required.
“As we approach the end of the pregnancy, we will assess the twins for growth, spacing, and any other factors that will aid in determining the most suitable method of delivery,” she stated.
According to Dr. Shweta Patel, an OB/GYN at the University of Alabama, Ms. Hatcher’s case is extremely uncommon.
She informed WVTM13 that OB/GYNs can go their entire careers without encountering anything similar to this.
Although doctors have determined a due date for delivery, Ms Hatcher mentioned that there is a chance one of the babies may be born weeks earlier than the other.
According to Ms Hatcher, the doctor she talked to mentioned that it is still possible for one baby to be born earlier than the other, given the situation.
A woman in Bangladesh who had uterus didelphys gave birth to twins in 2019, less than a month after delivering a premature baby boy.
Arifa Sultana Iti, 20, gave birth to her first child in February that year, but learned she was still pregnant after being rushed to hospital with stomach pains 25 days later.
On March 22nd of that year, a necessary Caesarean section was carried out to bring forth the healthy twins.
Source: independent.co.uk