Does superfoetation affect the mother’s health?

Yes, superfetation can increase the risk of complications such as high blood pressure, preeclampsia, and preterm birth because the foetuses develop at different stages.

Is superfoetation preventable?

There is no known way to prevent it because it occurs naturally and unexpectedly in rare cases.

Fact or Myth: Getting Pregnant While Already Pregnant

Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to get pregnant while already pregnant? It sounds impossible. After all, your body is already busy growing a baby, right? Well, hold on to your seat because it is possible, though it’s incredibly rare. The human body is full of surprises, and sometimes it does things that seem to defy logic. This phenomenon is called superfoetation, and it’s so uncommon that it often makes headlines when it happens!

What is Superfoetation?

Superfoetation happens when a woman who is already pregnant conceives another baby, resulting in two pregnancies at the same time. Unlike twins, where two babies are conceived at the same moment, superfoetation involves two embryos formed during different menstrual cycles. This means the babies have different gestational ages and due dates. It’s a fascinating but extremely rare event in humans.

How Does Superfoetation Happen?

A few highly unlikely events need to align for superfoetation to occur. Your body naturally sets up barriers to prevent another pregnancy once you’re already pregnant.

Here’s how it could happen, step by step:

Ovulation during pregnancy: Normally, pregnancy hormones like progesterone and oestrogen prevent the ovaries from releasing more eggs. In rare cases, ovulation can still happen, releasing a second egg.
Sperm reaching the egg: A mucus plug forms in your cervix during pregnancy, acting like a barrier to block sperm. For superfoetation, sperm would need to bypass this plug to fertilise the second egg.
Implantation in the uterus: The uterine lining thickens to support the first embryo, making it tough for another to implant. If a second fertilised egg manages to implant despite these changes, superfoetation occurs.

For superfoetation to happen, all these barriers must fail. Most documented cases involve assistive reproductive technologies (ART), like in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or artificial insemination, which can sometimes bypass these natural safeguards.

How Is Superfoetation Diagnosed?

Detecting superfoetation can be challenging because it looks similar to a twin pregnancy at first glance.

This is how doctors might identify it:

Ultrasound findings: During routine scans, your doctor may notice two fetuses at different stages of development. One baby might appear larger or more developed than the other, hinting at different conception times.
Post-birth confirmation: The only way to confirm superfoetation is after delivery, through DNA or chromosomal testing.

Sometimes, superfoetation is mistaken for other conditions, such as:

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome: One twin gets more nutrients than the other, causing uneven growth.
Placental insufficiency: The placenta doesn’t provide enough nutrients, leading to one foetus growing slower.

These possibilities make accurate diagnosis challenging until after birth.

What are the Risks of Superfoetation

Carrying two babies with different gestational ages comes with some risks.

Here’s what you should know:

For the baby: When two babies have different gestational ages, the younger one is at greater risk. If both are delivered at the same time, the less-developed baby may be born prematurely. Premature birth can bring challenges such as breathing problems or developmental delays.
For the mother: Carrying multiple babies increases the risk of preeclampsia (high blood pressure), gestational diabetes, and iron deficiency anaemia. These risks are similar to those in twin pregnancies.

Although there are risks, most reported cases of superfoetation have resulted in healthy deliveries. Doctors often plan a caesarean section to deliver both babies safely.

Superfoetation Vs Superfecundation: What’s the Difference?

It’s pretty easy to get confused between superfoetation and superfecundation, but they’re not the same thing:

Superfoetation: Two eggs get fertilised and implanted during completely different menstrual cycles. That means the babies end up having different gestational ages.
Superfecundation: Two eggs are released and fertilised during the same menstrual cycle, often by different partners. This leads to fraternal twins who share the same due date but possibly different fathers.

Superfecundation is also rare, but it’s slightly more common than superfoetation because it happens within one ovulatory cycle.

Should You Worry About Superfoetation?

The short answer is no, you don’t need to lose sleep over superfoetation. It’s so rare that doctors compare it to winning the lottery or being struck by lightning. Your body’s natural barriers make it nearly impossible, and even with fertility treatments, the chances are still very low.
So if you’re pregnant and your scan shows two babies, it usually just means you’re having twins.
Superfoetation is a real but incredibly rare phenomenon where a person gets pregnant while already pregnant. It’s not something you need to worry about, as your body has strong natural barriers to prevent it.
Whether you’re pregnant, a new mom, or navigating postpartum, you don’t have to do it alone. Join our support group to connect, share, and support one another.

FAQs on Fact or Myth - Getting Pregnant While Already Pregnant

Does superfoetation affect the mother’s health?
Yes, superfetation can increase the risk of complications such as high blood pressure, preeclampsia, and preterm birth because the foetuses develop at different stages.
Is superfoetation preventable?
There is no known way to prevent it because it occurs naturally and unexpectedly in rare cases.

Fact or Myth - Getting Pregnant While Already Pregnant

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