Triplets born from 2 wombs
Mum Melanie has identical twins in one uterus and single baby in the other after rare quirk leads to one in a million birth
A MUM with two wombsbs has given birth to triplets in a UK first – having twins in onee and a sibling in the second.
Melanie Bassett, 32, was stunnedunned when doctors discovered shee was carrying identical sisters Brookeooke and Isabel in one womb andd son Beau in the other.
Melanie learned of her unusualusual anatomy when pregnant with her first daughter Phoebe, bornorn in February 2017.
She fell pregnant again andnd Melanie and husband Ben, 33, had son Blake, now one, in February 2019.
The triplets were born via C-section, at 32 weeks, on January 26 this year.
The probability of twins from uterus didelphys – two wombs – is estimated at one in a million.
Melan i e , f rom Wa t e r l o o v i l l e , Hampshire , said: “When we were told it was quite crazy.
“Ben is one of four and I’m one of three but I don’t think having a big family was on the cards.
“But I wouldn’t change it for anything. I noticed a difference being pregnant with the triplets.
“I would often find myself having to deal with them kicking on both sides. One would kick and it would set all of them off.”
Rather than looking like a regular womb, Melanie’s is heart-shaped with two chambers. The condition can also involve a double vagina. It makes it no harder for a woman to conceive but slightly increases the risk of mis c a r r i a ge or premature birth.
Melanie is now raising five children under three but says she is looking forward to spending time this Christmas as a big family.
She said: “We really are looking forward to Christmas.
“We can’t wait to see their little faces on Christmas morning.
“It’s all about the children. We are cooking Christmas Day for my sister and her boyfriend and then Ben’s brother and family joining us for games on Boxing Day. Our fami ly is now complete.”