Kelsey Hatcher, a 32-year-old from Alabama, recently gave birth, but it wasn´t a typical birth experience. Kelsey found out that she has a rare condition called uterus didelphys, and it only happens to about 0.3% of women. Kelsey gave birth to two adorable girls on separate days, and it’s not because she gave birth overnight to twins; it’s all because she has two uteruses!
Kelsey’s Surprise Double Birth
After marrying Caleb and having three kids together, Kelsey got pregnant again. But things took a turn when she started bleeding a few weeks into the pregnancy. Worried, she went to the hospital for a checkup. During the ultrasound, the first baby looked fine, but when the radiographer checked the other uterus, there was a surprising discovery. There was another baby! Can you imagine her surprise?
After finding out about her extraordinary pregnancies, Kelsey checked into the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital (UAB) on December 19 for a planned delivery of her daughters. Following a 20-hour labor, Kelsey welcomed her two girls, Roxi and Rebel, who arrived ten hours apart. Roxi made her entrance on December 19 at 7:45 pm, weighing seven pounds, seven ounces. Baby Rebel joined the family on December 20 at 6:10 am, weighing seven pounds, three and a half ounces. It was quite a journey!
Insights on the Unique Pregnancy Dynamics
Dr. Richard O. Davis, a professor in the UAB Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, who played a role in overseeing Kelsey’s pregnancy, explained that in a typical twin pregnancy, the twins share one womb, which can limit the amount of space each has, making preterm or early birth a high possibility. With Kelsey’s babies, they each had their own womb, sac, placenta, and umbilical cord, allowing them extra space to grow and develop.
Dr. Shweta Patel, Kelsey’s obstetrician, shared that the field of obstetrics is constantly evolving and unpredictable by not always having clear-cut answers. Whether coming from one uterus or two, Kelsey and her babies are healthy and happy, and that’s ultimately what matters!