Image: Shutterstock
Even though humans have procreated since the very evolution of our species, there are still mysteries encircling pregnancies that scientists have not been able to decode till now. It’s true we have reached a place where we know how the fetus is formed, when to expect the child, and how to protect the child to ensure a healthy delivery, but there are still many things that go unexplained. One thing that has intrigued scientists the most is conceiving a child in the middle of another pregnancy.
We know how bizarre it sounds, but there are at least three well-documented instances of real-life women like Jessica Allen, Julia Grovenburg, and Kate Hill who got pregnant after already carrying a child (1). This is not even about having multiple births or twins. The pattern we highlight in this article may sound stranger than fiction, but it’s true! Women everywhere have been taken aback by the unexpected discovery of a second or third pregnancy after thinking they were done with having children. Let’s find out what the medical community has to say about how this is possible and if few of us have a higher risk of being affected by this anomaly. Read on to find out all about it.
Even Though It’s Rare, It Does Happen
Pregnancy can be difficult for various reasons, including the physical discomforts experienced by the expecting mother (such as nausea, leg cramps, and acid reflux). However, most couples think that if they are expecting a child, they can keep their birth control at rest during the term of pregnancy. It’s commonly held that once you’re pregnant, you can’t conceive again. But we have some shocking information that will make you rethink everything you know about becoming pregnant and maintaining fertility. It turns out that even if you already have a growing child in your womb, you can implant another one into your tummy! How crazy is that!
Superfetation, or a pregnancy resulting in two babies, is very unusual, but it can happen (2). Science suggests it’s feasible, yet it’s impossible to precisely say how frequently this can occur or at what age a woman is more prone to superfetation. The likelihood of it happening to you is low, but you shouldn’t remove the possibility of it happening altogether. The explanation is as follows.
Double Pregnancy Happens If Your Body Does A Special Trick
Image: Shutterstock
The cessation of ovulation during pregnancy is a well-established fact. You can’t have a superfetation because of other considerations. When a uterus has adapted to contain a fertilized egg, it usually won’t allow another egg to implant and grow into a baby. A woman’s body creates a mucus plug during pregnancy that protects the developing fetus from infection and acts as a barrier against recurrent conception. A split or incompletely developed uterus or ovulation during pregnancy are possible explanations for a twin pregnancy. Due to the rarity of these situations, medical professionals have yet to have the opportunity to fully explore their causes. There have been less than ten documented occurrences of this phenomenon, but it is accurate and has sparked new research.
How The Labor Timing Differs For Both The Pregnancies
Image: Shutterstock
The planning of the birth of your baby can be somewhat hampered by a second pregnancy. However, no matter how complicated the case is, you won’t have an 8-month-old fetus with a 3-month-old fetus, which is good news. The difference will be relatively close. The ages of these infants might be similar. Infants delivered around 37 & 38 weeks of pregnancy have a good chance of survival. Thus a mother carrying twins may choose a delivery date that falls between the babies’ due dates. The mother may not have significant concerns if the two twins are developing normally. On the other hand, tensions may arise if one is noticeably “younger” or less developed than the other. You need to go for frequent checkups, and your doctor will update you with each ultrasound showing the fetus’s development.
Getting to know that you have two kids growing up in you when you were mentally prepared for one can be overwhelming. However, at this point, there is nothing more important than your health and your children’s health. So, ensure you are healthy and research how to take care of twins. No one said it would be easy, but having two kids to cuddle instead of one is always welcome! So, what would be your first reaction if you learned that you were going to be the parents of twins? Let us know in the comments section!
