Getting pregnant when pregnant, also known as superfoetation, is very unusual yet possible. There are many possible explanations for how this astonishing phenomenon may occur. Normally, once a woman conceives, the body spontaneously ceases ovulating. In very rare instances, ovulation persists after a woman gets pregnant. A second possibility is that, in certain situations, two eggs are produced after ovulation, resulting in a conventional fraternal twin pregnancy. In superfoetation, on the other hand, the second egg essentially hibernates before implanting much later than the first.
What Is Superfoetation?
Superfoetation is an extremely unusual occurrence in which "an egg is ovulated and fertilised, and the resulting embryo implants during an ongoing pregnancy."Superfoetation vs. Twins
The time of fertilisation distinguishes superfoetation from twin pregnancies. In a twin pregnancy, both eggs are fertilised simultaneously, but in superfoetation, the first and second eggs are fertilised separately. This is different from a twin pregnancy in that twins are conceived at the same time, either from a fertilised egg that splits (identical twins) or from two eggs that are fertilised at once (fraternal twins).Superfoetation vs. Superfecundation
According to the experts, superfoetation occurs when two embryos develop over different menstrual cycles. Superfecundation, an even more unusual event, occurs when sperm from different acts of intercourse (and perhaps from different partners) reach two different eggs during the same ovulation phase.Are There Any Symptoms Of Superfoetation?
There are no unique symptoms of a superfoetation pregnancy. Patients may have no symptoms at all or have normal pregnancy symptoms such as nausea, breast tenderness, and weight gain.What Are The Causes Of Superfoetation?
Superfoetation is so uncommon that experts do not have enough evidence to determine its causes. There are only a few of these pregnancies documented. The majority of them include assistive reproductive technologies that overcome some of your body's limitations to consecutive pregnancies.Even with ART, superfoetation is unlikely.
Example: In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)
One confirmed example of superfoetation concerns a woman who became pregnant with twins after in vitro fertilisation. In vitro fertilisation involves your provider collecting eggs from your ovaries, fertilising them with a partner's or donor's sperm outside of your body, and then transferring the embryos to your uterine lining. Three weeks following the treatment, her doctor found a third embryo. This one was conceived at a separate time and without IVF.Example: Artificial Insemination
Another case includes a woman who underwent artificial insemination while taking drugs to stimulate her ovaries to generate more eggs. Doctors found they were already pregnant after undergoing insemination. The first pregnancy was ectopic. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when an embryo does not implant in the uterine lining. As a result, the pregnancy is not viable.Example: Surrogate
Six months after being implanted with another couple's embryo through IVF, a surrogate learnt that they were also carrying a second embryo. The second embryo proved to be their own biological child, conceived naturally after the first embryo was implanted.How Is Superfoetation Diagnosed?
Superfoetation is difficult to identify in early pregnancy since the symptoms might be similar to any other pregnancy, and it is so uncommon that physicians do not regularly screen for it. Experts describe a situation in which abnormal symptoms might occur: In some cases, superfoetation has led to an ectopic pregnancy within the fallopian tube and a heterotopic pregnancy inside the uterus, when one embryo implants inside the uterus. Symptoms like stomach discomfort or vaginal bleeding may develop. Ectopic pregnancies are never viable.A superfoetation diagnosis would entail a review of the menstrual cycle history as well as an ultrasound. The most prevalent indicator of a superfoetation pregnancy is confirmation of one pregnancy followed by confirmation of another, on a separate date, with a large size difference.
What Are The Risks Of Superfoetation?
Superfoetation cases that end in ectopic pregnancy are especially dangerous since they can result in life-threatening bleeding, requiring blood transfusion or surgery.There are additional risks when both foetuses are in the uterus. According to experts, superfoetation may cause asynchronous development of foetuses during pregnancy. This implies that, although one baby is completely formed and ready for delivery, the other may still be in its early stages of development, placing the younger foetus in danger of premature birth. Furthermore, any twin pregnancy increases the likelihood of premature delivery.
Preterm birth can result in a variety of issues for the baby, including "difficulties with breathing, low birth weight, challenges with movement and coordination, feeding difficulties, and serious complications such as brain haemorrhage and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, which is a breathing disorder caused by underdeveloped lungs.
Superfoetation happens so seldom that it's probably not anything you should be concerned about. However, if you become pregnant via assisted reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and your mommy instincts warn you something is wrong, it may be worth discussing superfoetation with your healthcare professional. Alternatively, if one of your ultrasounds shows one more foetus than there was before, you'll know what to think.
Some researchers feel superfoetation is a misdiagnosis of other disease, such as:
- Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome: It occurs when twins get different amounts of nutrients from their gestational parent. As a consequence, one twin obtains too many nutrients while the other receives too little. On imaging, the foetus receiving the most nutrients will seem larger than the other.
- Placental insufficiency: The placenta is an organ in your uterus that delivers oxygen and nourishment to the growing foetus from the gestational parent. With twins, the placenta is incapable of delivering enough nutrients to support the growth of both foetuses. As a consequence, they grow at varying speeds.
What Should I Expect If I Have Superfoetation?
You're likely to have a healthy pregnancy. The majority of verified occurrences of superfoetation involve twins born barely a few weeks apart. Your provider may advise you on the optimum time to deliver to increase the chances of a healthy birth for both twins.Can You Conceive While Six Months Pregnant?
There has only been one documented incidence of a surrogate becoming pregnant through IVF only to discover six months later that she was also pregnant with her own biological child. This is extremely unlikely to occur.What prevents someone from getting pregnant while already pregnant?
Once you are pregnant:
- Your hormones shift to keep your ovaries from producing another egg. Ovulation during pregnancy is quite uncommon.
- A mucus plug forms in your cervix, making it difficult for sperm to reach your uterus. The cervix is the opening between your vagina and uterus. If you have intercourse when pregnant, sperm will have trouble accessing your uterus and fallopian tubes, where fertilisation occurs.
- Your hormones adjust to keep an embryo from implanting in your uterine lining. Even if a second embryo forms, it is doubtful that it will be able to grow in your uterus.
The few examples of superfoetation demonstrate how efficiently pregnant bodies prevent a subsequent pregnancy from occurring. Superfoetation is practically impossible in all pregnancies, including those that use assisted reproductive technologies. Researchers are still looking into what causes superfoetation in the unusual case of a back-to-back pregnancy. Meanwhile, if you're already pregnant, there's no need to be concerned about getting pregnant again.
FAQs on Superfoetation: Can You Get Pregnant While Pregnant?
- Can you still conceive if you had an ectopic pregnancy?
Most women who have had an ectopic pregnancy will be able to conceive again, even if they have had their fallopian tubes removed. Fertility treatments like IVF may be required on occasion. If you've already had an ectopic pregnancy, your odds of having another one increase, although the danger remains low. - How is a superfoetation pregnancy treated?
If one foetus develops faster than the other, the younger foetus may be born prematurely. Your healthcare professional may propose a scheduled C-section to maximise the odds of both infants having a safe birth with no issues.
