Can a woman fall pregnant, while already pregnant?
It seems, yes she can.
The phenomenon is a rare occurrence, known as superfetation and there are only 10 or 11 known cases around the world.
The most recent happened to Brisbane woman, Kate Hill, who gave birth to two baby girls, who were conceived 10 days apart.
Image via Selena Rollason, Diimex
The new mum to baby girls, Charlotte and Olivia, had polycycstic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and was boosting her fertility through the use of hormone injections.
She and her husband Pete, had unprotected sex once, yet Mrs Hill fell pregnant with two babies, conceived at different times.
Mrs Hill told Today Tonight, “What makes this case even more rare, is that my husband and I only had intercourse one time — his sperm stayed alive for 10 days to fertilise the second egg released.
“We actually didn’t realise how special that was until they were born.”
Image via Selena Rollason/Diimex
Even though conception was 10 days apart, Charlotte and Olivia are classed as twins, says Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists President, Professor Michael Permezel.
“Normally with twins, both eggs are released at the same time and conceived at the same time.
Image via Selena Rollason/Diemex
“But in this case, one egg appears to have been released 10 days later and the sperm survived in the female genital tract before fertilising the other egg.
“We do know that sperm can survive in the female genital tract for up to a week, but usually not for 10 days,” Professor Permezel told news.com.au.
A similar conception happened in Arkansas in 2009. A woman was pregnant with a baby girl but it was discovered she also had a baby boy growing beside her.
Todd and Julia Grovenburg conceived their son, Hudson, two weeks after their daughter Jillian was conceived, say doctors.
Ms Grovenburg’s obstetrician Michel Muylaert told American TV station KFSM-TV. “Mrs Julia Grovenburg is pregnant with twins and there appears to be a discordant growth pattern, possibly due to superfetation.”
“This is an unusual and rare condition, but the possibility is real. It can only be confirmed after delivery by chromosomal and metabolic studies on the babies.”
When Julia gave birth to her babies, she was evaluated at the hospital and it was confirmed superfetation had taken place.
This has happened to me. This lady is not the first in Australia and nor am I! We are 12% of the population.
My kids are 11 days different in age but are still classed as twins as they were born together.
This has happened to me. This lady is not the first in Australia and nor am I! We are 12% of the population.
My kids are 11 days different in age but are still classed as twins as they were born together.
I had to go in for an Emergancy c section as the younger baby was not coping and wasnt doing to well her weight and growth stopped at 2 months preemie they both got delivered. They stayed in NICU for 2 months after birth.