In Birmingham, Alabama, Kelsey Hatcher's unique pregnancy is making medical headlines. She has a rare condition known as a double uterus and is currently pregnant in both. This extraordinary situation has surprised her local doctors and is now the subject of a case study.
Kelsey and her husband Caleb, who already have three children aged 7, 4, and 2, were not expecting to expand their family further until Kelsey discovered her pregnancy last spring.
During her first ultrasound, it was revealed that she was carrying two babies, one in each of her two functional uteri, each with its own cervix. This is reported by wistv.com.
Dr. Shweta Patel, Kelsey's obstetrician, described the situation as "very, very rare," noting that many OBGYNs go through their entire careers without encountering such a case. Dr. Richard Davis, a specialist in high-risk pregnancies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, added that less than 1% of women have two uteri, making the likelihood of twins in each uterus extremely low.
Kelsey's pregnancy is considered high risk due to its rarity. The babies, both girls, are growing well, but their birth could be complicated. They might be born hours, days, or even weeks apart, as each uterus could start contracting at different times.
The question arises: are the babies twins or simply siblings? Dr. Patel suggests that medically, they are still considered twins due to the uniqueness of the situation. The Hatchers, who are preparing for the arrival of their new babies, have decided that these will be their last additions to the family. Kelsey's due date is Christmas Day, and a team of doctors will be on standby for the labor.
The Hatcher family's story is a testament to the wonders and complexities of human biology.
