That's amazing!
The mother successfully gave birth to her second baby, but just 11 weeks earlier, she had just welcomed a daughter!
When I saw this news, my hands were shaking...
Bicornuate uterus?
Having twins in two and a half months?
Still calling it Liansheng?
Come, let me tell you about this rare thing.
This mother from Kazakhstan is named Liliya Konovalova, and she is 29 years old. On May 24th, Liliya's first child was born, but this premature baby, who had only stayed in his mother's womb for 25 weeks, weighed only 850 grams at birth. Her younger brother, born 11 weeks later, fared much better, weighing more than three times his sister's weight at birth.
The doctor in charge of the delivery stated that such a safe delivery for both mother and babies is extremely rare. The reason the two children were born so far apart is partly due to the older sister's premature birth, but the more fundamental reason is that their mother, Liliya, has two uteruses, with each fetus developing in its own separate uterus.
The older sister's health has now returned to normal, and the younger brother has been born safely.
“I want to thank the doctors for bringing my child into this world safely; it’s truly a miracle. I’m ready to be discharged,” Liliya said happily.
Having read this far, you may have a general understanding of this mother's pregnancy journey with a double uterus, but you may still have some questions: What exactly is a double uterus? Is having a double uterus a good or bad thing? How can a mother with a double uterus safely prepare for pregnancy? Let's continue reading.
1
What is a double uterus?
In fact, a double uterus is a manifestation of abnormal female reproductive organ development.
Each uterus has its own cervix, vagina, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. Furthermore, each uterus can ovulate and conceive.
However, in most cases, we may not know that we have a double uterus. It is usually discovered incidentally during an abortion, prenatal check-up, or even childbirth.
2
What are the risks of having a double uterus?
1
Irregular menstruation and dysmenorrhea
Women with a double uterus are more prone to menstrual irregularities, dysmenorrhea, and underdeveloped uterus on one side. When menstruation begins, the underdeveloped uterus slows down the flow of menstrual blood, preventing it from flowing out properly and causing dysmenorrhea.
2
Pregnancy is both difficult and dangerous
The chances of getting pregnant with a double uterus are very low. Even if pregnancy is successful, there is a high risk of miscarriage or premature birth.
It is estimated that the probability of miscarriage and premature birth due to clinical pregnancy is about 10%-20%, and the probability of abnormal fetal position is at most 10%. However, the probability of miscarriage, premature birth and abnormal fetal position is greatly increased in women with double uterus, with a miscarriage probability of about 20%-40%, a premature birth probability of 10%-33%, and an abnormal fetal position probability as high as 25%-37%.
This situation arises because, on the one hand, a double uterus pregnancy can easily lead to insufficient blood supply to the uterus and placental insufficiency, resulting in intrauterine growth restriction. On the other hand, in a single uterus pregnancy, the non-pregnant uterus can hinder the descent of the presenting part of the fetus, affecting the uterus's ability to contract and leading to dystocia. Furthermore, placental ischemia and hypoxia significantly increase the risk of gestational hypertension.
Another point is that women with a double uterus are more prone to miscarriage failure. This is because most women with a double uterus only conceive in one uterus. If an abortion is performed in early pregnancy, there is a risk of accidentally aspirating the non-conceived uterine lining, resulting in missed embryo removal and miscarriage failure.
In July of this year, a mother with twin uteruses in Shaanxi Province experienced this situation. See the video below for details:
Although it may seem alarming, there's no need to worry excessively, as only a very small percentage of cases require surgical intervention. In other words, if a double uterus does not cause clinical symptoms, treatment may not be necessary.
3
How can I tell if I have a double uterus?
Indeed, how do we know if we have a double uterus? Here are a few suggestions for your reference:
First, an ultrasound can be performed to determine if the size and number of uteruses are normal. If a double uterus is indeed detected, the next step is to determine which uterus is more suitable for conception. Generally speaking, the uterus on the side where an ovary releases an egg is more likely to conceive. Therefore, before trying to conceive, it's advisable to have an examination to determine which uterus is better developed and more suitable for conception.
If you are diagnosed with a condition requiring treatment, don't panic. Currently, for patients with dual uteruses who need treatment, a feasible approach is to remove the septum inside the vagina to merge the two uteruses, reducing the likelihood of miscarriage and dystocia.
Once a woman with a double uterus confirms pregnancy, she should be aware of early signs of miscarriage, such as vaginal bleeding, lower back pain, and back discomfort. These may indicate a threatened miscarriage. Don't panic; relax and go to the hospital for appropriate treatment to prevent miscarriage.
In the mid-to-late stages of pregnancy, expectant mothers should take precautions to prevent premature birth. Specific measures include: having regular prenatal checkups, which may be more frequent and numerous than for other pregnant women; and avoiding long-distance travel to prevent overexertion.
Of course, the most important thing is to stay relaxed mentally. After all, you're welcoming a new life, and being happy with your family is the most important thing!
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