Decoded: Can you conceive while already being pregnant?

The anatomy of the human body never fails to surprise with researches and studies often
revealing newer things about it. Recently in a rarest of rare cases, a woman from California got
pregnant while she was already pregnant — resulting in the birth of twin babies. The woman
had earlier agreed to be a gestational surrogate mother for a Chinese couple but soon found out
that she was pregnant with non-identical twins. Tests showed that both children had two
different sets of parents.

The mentioned case is an example of superfetation which means getting pregnant while being
already pregnant in the same cycle. So how does it occur and what risks does it cause for mother
and child/ren? Dr Ruby Sehra, senior consultant, gynaecology, Sri Balaji Action Medical
Institute shares some insights. 

What is superfetation?
In general cases, ovulation in women gets restricted right after they conceive, which reopens
after the prevailing pregnancy cycle gets a closure. Also, certain hormonal changes do not
allow another embryo to develop. But in some rare cases, ovulation remains open for few days
even after women conceive. If, during this period (within 10 days), such women have sexual
intercourse, then there is a possibility of the occurrence of another foetus and its development.
It is more like additional ovulation. Also, in general cases, the thin layer of the endometrial line
doesn’t let another foetus enter the already developing embryo, but in rare cases, it successfully
penetrates through it and starts developing. Hence children born out of such condition are twins
but not identical.

Superfetation and superfecundation
This is something most people have confusion about. Unlike superfetation, in
superfecundation, the timing of second intercourse differs. It occurs with same day ovulation
with two different fathers, while in superfetation, the second ovulation can occur even weeks
apart. 

Is there any risk to mother or child?
Although this is a rarest of a rare condition which involves hardly any risk for the mother, the
risk of having a premature baby highly prevails, that too because while one baby may be ready
to be born, the other one might be at the developing stage in the womb.

“Opt for a safer pregnancy. Especially the couples choosing to be parents through surrogacy
should be more aware of its safe procedure,” mentioned Dr Sehra.

“As far as its symptoms are concerned, the possibility of expecting twins can fall under this
category as long as the process mentioned above has taken place and as an adult, we should
responsibly know about our acts and their possible results,” said Dr Sehra.

https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/can-you-become-pregnant-while-beingpregnant-
california-woman-symptoms-causes-superfetation-7256436/