Imagine finding out you’re pregnant and then learning that you’ve conceived again just a few weeks later. That’s what happened to Rebecca Roberts who had been struggling with infertility for years.
In one of the rarest superfetation cases in the world, Roberts not only managed to conceive, but also gave birth to ‘super twins.’
She is now sharing her fascinating pregnancy journey with the world.
Rare Superfetation Pregnancy And Birth Of “Super Twins”
Rebecca Roberts shared her incredible pregnancy journey with the world through social media. | Screengrab: Instagram
Rebecca’s ‘super twins’ were born on the same day but conceived three weeks apart – in September last year.
She is only one of a handful of known superfetation cases and may hold the record for the longest time between conceptions. Holding that title, Roberts said on social media, “is really cool.”
Some of the past cases include women who conceived again 10 days after becoming pregnant the first time.
What Is A Superfetation Pregnancy?
Three unlikely events need to take place in case of a superfetation pregnancy. Image courtesy: iStock
As you know, a normal pregnancy occurs when a sperm fertilises an ovum (egg). The ovum then implants itself in a woman’s uterus. But for superfetation to happen, another completely different ovum needs to fertilise and implant separately in the womb, and three very unlikely events need to take place:
- Ovulation during ongoing pregnancy: This can’t happen because hormones released during pregnancy prevent further ovulation.
- The second ovum must be fertilised by a sperm cell: This is also unlikely because once a woman is pregnant, their cervix forms a mucus plug that blocks the passage of sperm.
- The fertilised egg needs to implant in an already pregnant womb: It’s another unlikely event because implantation requires the release of certain hormones that wouldn’t be released if a woman were already pregnant.
The chances of these three taking place simultaneously is extremely rare. Also in most cases, these women are known to have been undergoing fertility treatments.
So it might happen if the woman also ovulates and the egg becomes fertilised by sperm a few weeks after the embryos are transferred into her uterus.
Potential Risks In Superfetation Cases
Roberts was induced at 33 weeks because a problem with Rosalie’s umbilical cord prevented her from growing properly | Screengrab: Instagram
There is risk in this phenomenon since the fetuses are growing at different stages of the pregnancy. Roberts was told her younger child, who they have named Rosalie, might not survive, according to Good Morning America.
Roberts’ obstetrician David Walker told the Washington Post, “We were concerned because the second twin was much smaller. It was only by regularly scanning and seeing that the rate of growth was consistently three weeks behind that we realised it was superfetation.”
Roberts was induced at 33 weeks because a problem with Rosalie’s umbilical cord prevented her from growing properly. Her son, Noah, who weighed four pounds, 10 ounces came home after three weeks from NICU. Daughter Rosalie weighed two pounds, seven ounces and came home after spending 95 days in the NICU.
Symptoms Of A Superfetation Pregnancy
There are no specific symptoms for superfetation. The medical literature has only documented a few cases.
Your doctor may suspect if they notice that twin fetuses are growing at different rates in the womb. During an ultrasound test, a doctor will see that the two fetuses are of different sizes or growth discordance.
But actually, there can be other reasons why twins may be of different sizes. For instance, if one fetus’ placenta is not as healthy as the other one. It also occurs when there is an uneven distribution of blood between the twins.
Complication In Superfetation Cases
It’s important to note that during a superfetation pregnancy, you will have two babies who are growing at different stages during the gestation period. For instance, if one baby is ready to be born, the other fetus might not be. In this case, the younger one will be at risk of premature delivery and that poses separate risks including.
- low birth weight
- difficulties with feeding
- breathing trouble
- bleeding in the brain
- breathing disorder caused by underdeveloped lungs known as neonatal respiratory distress syndrome
In addition, women carrying more than one baby are at increased risk of complications like gestational diabetes and high blood pressure.
So while there is no specific way to prevent superfetation cases, you can decrease your chances of superfetation by not having sexual intercourse after you’ve already gotten pregnant. Still, superfetation is extremely rare even if you have sex after becoming pregnant.
Also, make sure to test that you’re not already pregnant before undergoing any fertility treatment. Follow all recommendations from your fertility doctor if undergoing IVF including abstinence.
Difference Between Superfetation And Typical Twin Pregnancy
In a typical twin pregnancy, multiple ova are released in a single cycle. This can happen naturally or stimulated with fertility drugs. Dizygotic (fraternal) twins, triplets, or other multiples happen when more than one ovum fertilises and implants in the uterus.
Source: Insider, Healthline
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