Pregnancy Forums

Posted: 16 November 2007 at 5:52pm | IP Logged

A superfetation pregnancy occurs when a woman carries two babies at the same time, but they are not twins. Twins are formed when either one egg is fertilised and divides into two (identical twins) or when two eggs are released in the same menstrual cycle, and both fertilised by separate sperm (non- identical twins) However, superfetation occurs when the woman continues to ovulate whilst still pregnant and eggs from different cycles are fertilised. This is extremely rare with a million - to - 1 chance of it happening. The two pregnancies both grow in the uterus, at their own rates. If superfetation occurs with just one cycle apart the babies would usually be born together, yet would be siblings and not twins. If the second pregnancy is conceived later in the first pregnancy there is a risk that the smaller will not survive as it will be born when in labour with the first baby.

I came across this condition whilst reading an article in a magazine. I was completely amazed and wondered if it answered my questions about Joshua's conception.

In 2002 I was pregnant, and at a scan was devastaed to be told that my unborn had no chance of survival due it being a molar pregnancy, and I was booked in for a D&C (evacuation of the womb). My partner of the time did not attebnd the procedure, and we did not see each other for a few weeks, and was months before I felt ready to engage in a sexual relationship with him. Shortly after this, routine tests for the molar pregnancy follow ups showed that I was pregnant again, only I was 5 months gone. There was no way I could explain it as me and my then partner knew we had been apart for a while. My consultant worked out the dates and it put it back to being BEFORE the D&C. This meant that I was pregnant with Joshua whilst I was pregnant with the first baby, I would have been about 4-5 weeks with Joshua at the time of the operation. No one could explain to me how it could have happened. Having read this article Im now wondering if this is how I conceived Joshua. I always said he was my little miracle, conceived whilst pregnant and survived a D&C, now it looks like he really could a a million to 1 baby!

Posted: 28 November 2007 at 3:03pm | IP Logged

WOW - I had read the story prreviously in a magazine and had never ehard of it before. 

It's truly amazing, what with surviving during a molar pregnancy and a D&C!

I completely understand the feeling of being worried and totally concerned about the trophoblastic disease, following my molar pregnancy in January!

You must be so proud of your little miracle!