A Woman with 2 Wombs Delivered Twins
In Clearwater, Florida, a rare medical condition had been reported: a mother possessing two uteruses gave birth to healthy fraternal twins. Each of the babies came from each womb according to the doctor who handled the patient.
The condition of the mother Andrea Barbosa, 24, is called didelphys. Normally, the uterus starts as two small tubules. As the uterus develops, the two tubules conjoin to create one larger organ which is the uterus. However, there are some instances that the two separate tubules don't complete the process.
Instead, they remain separate to each other which is how double uterus forms. The treatment for this kind of condition is unnecessary unless severe symptoms occur. This condition has the possibility to cause infertility and miscarriage, and painful menstrual period. But Andrea never had these signs.
According to Andrea, she got pregnant without using reproductive medicine. Her doctor hadn't thought it possible. Andrea knew about her condition when she had her ultrasound when she was 7 weeks pregnant.
"I was frightened and scared... a little bit of everything in one," Andrea stated.
According to her obstetrician Dr Patricia St. John, this kind of pregnancy is 1 in 5 million. The woman with this kind of condition has to release 2 eggs at one time and both eggs should be fertilized and be successfully implanted on both uterus. Both have to result to viable pregnancies.
St. John added that Barbosa could have produced multiple eggs from both ovaries, or just in one ovary. Andrea's fallopian tubes connect with separate uteruses and both have its own cervix.
This rare medical condition is usually associated with abnormalities in the kidney. In Barbosa's case, she only has one kidney instead of the normal pair of kidneys. Andrea is physically normal and because of that fact she never knew that she has a rare medical condition.
She even thought before that a cyst needs to be removed and that's how her doctor gave her a full detail about the anatomical structure that she has. She conceived on the right uterus and gave birth through Cesarean section to Izabella, now 2-years-old.
Her doctor said that her left uterus is small and never expect that Andrea will have double pregnancy. And now Andrea and her husband Miguel is so happy with the arrival of their twins Nathan and Natalie Barbosa.