Is it possible to be pregnant during pregnancy?
Yes! This method is called superfetation.
What is Superfetation?
Superfetation (also spelt superfoetation and superfœtation) is the simultaneous occurrence of more than one stage of developing offspring in the same animal. It is not believed that it occurs naturally in humans. but there have been reported cases of possible superfetation in humans.
In mammals, it manifests as the formation of an embryo from a different oestrous cycle while another embryo or fetus is already present in the uterus. When two separate instances of fertilisation occur during the same menstrual cycle, it is known as superfecundation. Superfetation is claimed to be common in some species of animals. In mammals, it can occur only where there are two uteri, or where the oestrous cycle continues through pregnancy.
Is Superfetation a normal occurence in mammals?
The phenomenon is known to occur in some mammals such as badgers and mink but it’s highly unusual in humans. “It’s incredibly rare, and there aren’t many reports on this,” says Christine Greves, MD, an ob-gyn in Orlando, Florida. “It’s so rare, in fact, that I can’t even give you a statistic on it.”
That’s because once a woman is pregnant, changes in her hormones typically prevent her body from continuing to ovulate, Dr Greves explains. But if a woman does ovulate again—and if that egg becomes fertilized and implants in her uterus, she can carry a double pregnancy.
Would the babies be born at the same time?
Yes. In the earliest known cases, the babies’ age difference was discovered after both children were delivered naturally. These days, the condition shows up during an ultrasound, giving Mom and the medical team time to plan the delivery – usually a planned c-section, since only one of the babies is full-term.
References
- Health. Pregnant while Pregnant. Accessed on 4th October 2018
- Fletcher & Dan (September 28, 2009). How Can a Pregnant Woman Get Pregnant Again?. Time Magazine. Retrieved March 29, 2018.