A woman who became pregnant while already expecting has shared her remarkable story of carrying two separate pregnancies simultaneously, a rare phenomenon known as superfetation.
Discovering the Second Pregnancy
In 2020, Rebecca Roberts, 39, and her partner Rhys Weaver, 43, were viewing an ultrasound of their baby boy, Noah, who had been conceived 12 weeks earlier. To their surprise, they discovered Rebecca had also conceived a second baby — their daughter, Rosalie — about three weeks later.
A Rare Phenomenon: Superfetation
Doctors informed Rebecca that this unusual occurrence was likely a case of superfetation, where a woman conceives again while already pregnant. “We feel really lucky… it’s wonderful, they are a blessing,” Rebecca shared. Even her midwife was baffled by the rare diagnosis.
Birth and Recovery of the Twins
On September 17, 2020, Rebecca gave birth to Noah, weighing 4lb 10oz, and Rosalie, weighing 2lb 7oz, at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. Due to her small size, Rosalie was transferred to St Michael’s Hospital in Bristol for further care and stayed there for 95 days. Noah, needing treatment for three weeks, remained in Bath before going home to meet his older sister, Summer, 14.
Superfetation vs. Twinning
Dr. Misra-Sharp clarified that superfetation is a rare anomaly distinct from twinning. In superfetation, eggs are fertilized at different times, while in twinning, both eggs are fertilized at the same time. “One fetus will be visibly smaller or younger than the other by a few weeks,” the doctor explained, distinguishing it from typical twin pregnancies.
Rebecca’s story highlights the rare, but possible, occurrence of carrying two pregnancies at once, making her experience both extraordinary and heartwarming.