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Woman pregnant with two, but not twins
by Sophie Anderson - July 17, 2010 - comments
Angie Cromar is pregnant with two babies in different wombs and at different stages of their development
You may not have heard of this for the chances of its occurrence are one in 5 million. The person to experience this unique phenomenon is Angie Cromar.
34-year-old Cromer, a resident of Utah, is pregnant with two babies, due at two different times.
Uterus didelphys the reason
She and her doctor were pleasantly surprised when her first ultrasound revealed she had conceived two babies but both of them were at two different development stages.
At the time of the ultrasound, the elder baby was six weeks and a day old while the younger one was five weeks and a day old.
Thus the two babies have two separate due days which are about a week apart.
The nervous yet exited Cromar, who is a labor and delivery nurse herself, knows the rarity can bring in its wake problems like pre-term labor and low birth weight.
Angie was born with a rare condition known as didelphys wherein a woman has two uteruses.
Many women with a double uterus lead normal sex lives, have normal pregnancies and deliveries.
Cromer has two healthy children from her earlier pregnancies. Unlike her previous pregnancies, this time she conceived in both of her uteruses.
According to the available data no more than 100 people throughout the world are known to have given birth in this manner.
"So she's a member of a small, elite club," said Dr. Steve Terry, Cromar's gynaecologist.
Nervousness and excitement
The nervous yet exited Cromar, who is a labor and delivery nurse herself, knows the rarity can bring in its wake problems like pre-term labor and low birth weight.
"Oh, I'm a little nervous, just because I know what can happen, but I'm really excited," said the mom-to-be.
Cromar said when she broke the news to her husband; he was excited, but a bit unconvinced.
"He didn't believe me for a little while," she said. Then reality set in.
"It's pretty rare. We are pretty thankful, pretty happy," she added.
The family is already famous because of the babies. The medical community is following the case with keen interest.
The interest is likely to reach the zenith as the first due date approaches.
"As far as setting up bleacher and selling tickets, we are not anticipating that, though," Terry said.
At present Cromar is 20 weeks pregnant, more than half way through. The family must be pretty busy buying double of everything, albeit at the same time.