A son conceived 2 ½ weeks after a daughter
Todd and Julia Grovenburg of Arkansas are expecting new additions to their family. However, unlike the vast majority of expectant mothers with two kids on the way, Julia Grovenburg isn’t going to have twins, and the children aren’t going to be at least nine months apart. Her children, a girl to be named Jillian and a boy to be named Hudson, were conceived two-and-one-half weeks apart. They’re growing alongside one another and will have separate due dates.
Superfetation – a gift that makes you thankful for payday loans
Think one kid is expensive? Try two of them this way!
Julia Grovenburg is experiencing superfetation, which was discovered during a routine ultrasound. ABC News reports that this rare medical occurrence has doctors beside themselves.
“They saw one sack, one baby developing, and that baby had a certain gestational age; then they noticed a second heartbeat in a child that was much, much younger developmentally,” Dr. Karen Boyle commented. She also noted that the difference in size and development between the fetuses is uncommon.
So rare, medical literature has almost nothing to say about it
A pregnant woman is pregnant again… at the same time, and they aren't twins! (Photo: wikipedia.org)
A pregnant woman pregnant again in this manner – superfetation – is so rare that medical journals apparently haven’t paid much attention, according to Boyle. “I could only find about 10 reported cases,” she told ABC. Julia Grovenburg’s OBGYN, Dr. Michel Muylaert, wrote local media that it may indeed be superfetation: “(She) is pregnant with twins and there appears to be a discordant growth pattern, possibly due to superfetation… (however), it can only be confirmed after delivery by chromosomal and metabolic studies on the babies.”
Twin births – does superfetation cause doctors to question what they know?
One of the great things about the human condition is that we’re always learning. In the case of medical science, no reputable doctor will tell you that we know everything about every possible condition that could beset a gerbil, let alone a human being. Such may be the case with superfetation. Because it has been observed so rarely, it “may be impossible to tell if this happens more often,” says Dr. Donnica Moore. An obstetrician and president of New Jersey’s Sapphire Women’s Health Group, Moore indicated that “If the children are born at the same time, it might be that they were conceived at different times.”
Unfortunately, if the conceptions are too close together, there could be health risks for the younger child. In particular, premature birth would be a concern, says Boyle. “It [the second conception] can happen up to 24 days later than the first conception, and then you’re putting the second baby at risk for lung development problems,” she said. However, it is believed that because the span between Julia Grovenburg’s children is about two weeks, the risk won’t be great.
So when are the kids due for delivery?
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Based upon traditional nine-month time spans, the older child would be born around the end of 2009 and the younger at the beginning of 2010. But if young Hudson decides to come out with Jillian, then plans will of course change. Let’s wish them the best in health and happiness. Hopefully, they’ll be able to financially manage their growing family, but if they need temporary help between paychecks, payday loans are always available.
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Actually, my mother was one of those cases who had two babies concieved seperately. The (twins sort of) were born 1 minute apart but one was 3 months premature. They are all grown and 40 years old now. They don't look, act, or think alike at all, never have…both boys who's lives went in opposite directions. It was unheard of 40 years ago but is now becoming more popular.
I am one of those rare multiples, I was the second twin, believed to be 2 months younger at birth. I was a premie where my sister wasn't. Unfortunately that was 48 years ago, long before ultrasounds were usedand it wasn't known to my parents that they were expecting twins. I did develop at the same pace but always remained smaller than my twin. Fortunately we are both healthy and have beautiful daughters who resemble the other mother.
What, I wonder, is the second baby supposed to do when the first decides "it's time to go"?
Yeah I heard thats crazy lol I had no idea a baby could grow to be that big. They have to be careful cuz the baby could become fat. Yep women were strong.
Speaking of babies, did you hear about the woman in Indonesia who gave birth to a 19 pound baby? It's a bit scary if you asked me. LOL. What I'd like to know is how the mother is doing. How in the heck did she manage to carry such a huge bundle for so long? I'm telling you, women are amazing.