Woman with 2 uteruses gives birth to twins from both wombs
A woman who has two uteruses welcomed a child from each womb.
South China Morning Post reported the rare case of a woman, surnamed Li, who was born with two fully formed uteruses, including ovaries and oviducts.
She gave birth to a healthy boy and girl in September via Cesarean delivery at a hospital in Xi’an, Shaanxi province, central China when she was eight and a half months pregnant.
The woman has uterus didelphys, which is a rare condition that affects only 0.3% of women worldwide, according to Cleveland Clinic. Its risks include mispositioned or missing kidneys, miscarriage, and premature birth, that’s why it is uncommon for a woman with this condition to have a safe and successful birthing experience.
Citing local media, the SCMP said Li, whose age was not disclosed, previously suffered a miscarriage at 27 weeks due to unidentified factors. When she became pregnant again in January, her doctors worked on a meticulous plan to ensure her safety.
“Being pregnant in each of the two uteruses through natural conception is very rare. We have only heard of a couple of such cases from both China and abroad,” said Cai Ying, a senior obstetrician at the hospital.
“It’s even rarer that a woman with this condition would successfully give birth after 37 weeks,” she said, adding that it was a “one in a million” phenomenon.
A similar case was also reported in December 2023 when Kelsey Hatcher from Alabama, United States gave birth to twins via vaginal delivery and Cesarean section 10 hours after.