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can you get pregnant while pregnant

by Diamond Feest Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

A double pregnancy, or superfetation, is extremely rare — in fact, there aren't even stats on how often it happens — but it's scientifically possible. We're not saying you should worry about it happening to you, just that you can't say that it's impossible.May 29, 2020

Full Answer

How to calculate safe days for not getting pregnant?

  • Be careful with the safe period figuring and tail it strictly and precisely
  • Have a partner who is similarly committed to engaging in sexual relations according to safe days
  • Know, understand check and outline your indications of fertility
  • Use different types of contraception during the remainder of the days

When are you most prone to get pregnant?

  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common reason why women in the US can't get pregnant.
  • Losing weight or taking certain medication can boost your odds of getting pregnant with PCOS.
  • If all else fails, consider in-vitro fertilization but know that your odds can rely on age and weight.
  • Visit Insider's Health Reference library for more advice.

What not to do during pregnancy?

What are some of the interventions needed?

  • Diaphragmatic breathing. One great way to get the ribs moving regularly is through proper diaphragmatic breathing. ...
  • Soft tissue release. ...
  • Movement and posture modification. ...
  • Wear loose clothing with corrected bra fittings.
  • Try warm compresses or ice packs on the sore area. ...

What are the best things to do when pregnant?

What can I do to promote a healthy pregnancy?

  • Take folic acid.
  • Do not use alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.
  • Talk to your health care provider about medications.
  • Avoid exposure to toxic substances.
  • Follow a healthy diet.
  • Eat a safe diet.
  • Limit caffeine intake.
  • Talk to your health care provider about physical activity.
  • Maintain a healthy weight. ...
  • Get regular dental checkups.

More items...

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Woman gets pregnant while pregnant, gives birth to twins - Deseret News

Two babies. Not one. “I thought something awful had happened,” Roberts told The Washington Post. “The sonographer looked at me and was like, ‘Do you know you’re expecting twins?’”

Woman gets pregnant with second child while already pregnant - CNN

In what a British couple calls their "medical marvel," a woman got pregnant with a second child while already pregnant. Called superfetation, there may be fewer than a dozen recorded cases of the ...

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How many weeks pregnant can a baby be delivered?

Older research has shown that delivery timing might be tricky in cases of double pregnancies since the fetuses are two different gestational ages, but delivery somewhere between 37 and 38 weeks of pregnancy is typically recommended for superfetation cases.

What happens after a fertilized egg is placed in the uterus?

And after the first fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterine wall, the uterine lining thickens to support the egg, which will likely prevent another egg from triggering the same exact process to happen all over again. This content is imported from {embed-name}.

Is superfetation the same as twin pregnancy?

Superfetation might be mistaken for a twin pregnancy in an ultrasound because it also involves seeing two babies, but it’s not the same thing. There will be a difference in gestational age with a double pregnancy, because the two babies were conceived at two different times (even if a few days or weeks apart).

Can a woman have a double pregnancy?

A woman might not have any idea she was dealing with a double pregnancy until the babies are actually born, especially if they are very close in gestational age. “The major way that people know it has happened is if the fathers are of different races, so the differences in the babies may be obvious,” Dr. Minkin says.

Can twins grow at different paces?

Twins can also simply grow at different paces, Dr. Minkin notes. And, Dr. Minkin points out, twins are from two (presuming fraternal twins, not identical) eggs released at the same time, with the same father. A double pregnancy could technically result from two different sexual encounters with two different people.

Should multiple gestational babies be delivered early?

But there shouldn’t be a problem with safety and the babies should be fine and make it almost to full term, especially if you have good prenatal health and obstetrical care. “In general, multiple gestation pregnancies often need to be delivered early, but again, would likely do well,” Dr. Minkin says.

How many weeks does a fetus have to be to ovulate?

She cites one previous case report in which doctors identified a four-week discordance between two fetuses. In other words, one fetus appeared to be four weeks older than the other, which suggested a superfetation pregnancy. "This would go with the fact that ovulation can occur every 28 days," she explains.

Can you get pregnant while already pregnant?

Yes, You Can Get Pregnant While Already Pregnant. We Asked a Doctor to Explain. A surrogate mother thought she gave birth to twins—but it turns out the boys were half-brothers. Here's how this incredibly rare phenomenon can occur. By Kathleen Felton.

Can a woman have a double pregnancy if she ovulates?

But if a woman does ovulate again—and if that egg becomes fertilized and implants in her uterus, she can carry a double pregnancy. The reasons why a woman might ovulate while she's already pregnant aren't well studied.

Can twin twins have different gestational age?

But fetuses that appear to have different gestational ages aren't necessarily proof of superfetation. There is such a thing as twin-twin discordance, Dr. Greves points out, which means the fetuses are growing at different rates inside the uterus.

Can a second fetus be seen on an ultrasound?

If a pregnant woman has an early ultrasound that reveals only one fetus, and a subsequent ultrasound reveals a second fetus —that could indicate superfetation has occurred. But again, the evidence isn't definitive, since her doctor may have simply missed the second fetus the first time around.

Can you get pregnant when pregnant?

Although rare, yes it is possible to get pregnant while you are already pregnant. This phenomenon is called superfetation, and it occurs when a pregnant woman becomes pregnant again after an initial fetus already exists.

Understanding superfetation

As of 2021, there are around 10 medically documented cases of superfetation in humans. It is so rare that little medical research has been done to study exactly what causes it, the likelihood of it happening, and potential symptoms.

What about ovulation? Can you ovulate when pregnant?

For the vast majority of pregnancies, no. it is not possible to ovulate while you are pregnant. This is because after implantation, your body ramps up the production of pregnancy hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone, and hCG, to support a pregnancy.

Pregnant while pregnant anecdotes

There are very few reported cases of superfetation (less than 10 documented in medical research worldwide) – here are three of the most notable cases.

About Katerina Shkodzik

Dr. Katerina Shkodzik is a certified OB-GYN with a special focus on reproductive endocrinology and infertility issues. She has been practicing since 2015.

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How many babies does a woman have at once?

In an odd phenomenon known as superfetation, a pregnant woman releases an egg a few weeks into her pregnancy. The second egg is fertilized, and the woman is then pregnant with two babies simultaneously.

Can a baby have a full term?

Yes. In the earliest known cases, the babies' age difference was discovered after both children were delivered naturally. These days, the condition shows up during an ultrasound, giving Mom and the medical team time to plan the delivery – usually a planned c-section, since only one of the babies is full-term.

Can twins ovulate during pregnancy?

Read more about these twins with different fathers .) Biologically speaking, things aren't supposed to happen this way. "Pregnancy hormones usually shut down a woman's system, making it impossible for her to ovulate during her pregnancy," says Connie Hedmark, an obstetrician at Marquette General Hospital in Michigan.

How does pregnancy happen from intercourse?

Pregnancy has a lot to do with the menstrual cycle and the ovaries. The female reproductive system typically has two ovaries, one on each side of the body. Each month a group of eggs, or ova, develops inside the ovaries.

Can you get pregnant from pre-cum?

Even before ejaculating semen, the penis releases a clear, colorless liquid that is called pre-ejaculate (or pre-cum). There’s still debate among scientists as to whether or not it contains sperm. Some research shows that some people produce precum that contains sperm, while others do not.

Can you get pregnant from anal sex?

Pregnancy cannot happen directly because of anal sex. But the vaginal opening and the anus are extremely close to each other, so there is always the chance for sperm to flow into the vagina and travel to fertilize an egg. This is rather rare and unlikely, but still possible.

Can you get pregnant from oral sex?

Oral sex is one type of sexual activity that won’t result in pregnancy. Stimulating someone’s genitals with the lips and tongue does not allow sperm anywhere near an egg, so no unexpected pregnancy will result from this activity.

Can you get pregnant from getting fingered?

Fingering is when a partner stimulates the vagina with their fingers, and pregnancy from this is typically not possible. If the vagina is being penetrated by clean fingers without any semen on them, there’s no risk of becoming pregnant. If the fingers have traces of semen on them, coming into contact with the vagina can result in pregnancy.

Can you get pregnant from dry humping with clothes on?

Dry humping is also sometimes known as “outercourse.” This form of sexual activity cannot result in pregnancy because it does not allow semen into or around the vagina.

Can you get pregnant from a toilet seat?

Semen cannot survive on a surface like a toilet seat or anything similar. This is because it depends upon a moist environment to survive. Pregnancy from making typical contact with a toilet is unlikely.

So how in the world is getting pregnant while pregnant even anatomically possible?

It’s not a bunch of hocus pocus (though I totally would have believed otherwise). You can get pregnant while pregnant, and there’s actually a scientific explanation to clear up the confusion.

What does this mean for the babies once they're eventually born?

From what I understand, superfetation generally doesn’t happen in humans. It’s more of a general mammal thing, like cats and rabbits, for example. So when cases of superfetation were first seen in women, doctors were pretty much stumped. Even though it's far, far from the norm, however, birth risks are pretty minimal.

But because these types of situation are so rare, doctors are hesitant to diagnose them as superfetation

Medical professionals are super cautious when it comes to diagnosing their patients, and rightfully so.

How often do women ovulate?

First, women typically ovulate only once per cycle, releasing one or more eggs simultaneously. If fertilization by the man's sperm is successful, the egg or eggs then implant in the uterus, the pregnancy begins and no further ovulation occurs.

Can twins be released at the same time?

"If a woman has twins," Schapiro said, "two eggs are released at the same time. And in the unusual case of triplets, those eggs are all released with one ovulation." Identical twins happen if a freshly fertilized egg splits.

Did Rebecca take fertility pills?

Rebecca had just taken one dose of fertility drugs designed to stimulate ovulation before she conceived Noah. While that may be one reason for this rare occurrence, Rebecca said, it could also just be a "medical marvel.".

What happens when a woman conceives?

Here’s a brief overview of what happens for a couple to conceive naturally: A woman’s reproductive system must produce the cascade of hormones that results in ovulation and the releasing of an egg from one of the ovaries. This occurs monthly. A man’s reproductive system must be producing a healthy sperm count.

How to maximize conception?

To maximize your conception efforts, determine your fertility window by counting out 10 days from the first day of your last menstrual period. Have sex this day and then every other day for the next 10 days . This helps ensure you have healthy mature sperm waiting for the egg to be released.

How long does it take for a baby to produce hCG?

This occurs about four to 10 days after fertilization. After implantation, the embryo creates both fetal cells and placental cells. The hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), or “the pregnancy hormone,” will begin to be produced. About one week later, or approximately 14 days after ovulation, there is enough circulating hCG for ...

When is baby making most important?

When desiring to get pregnant, the most important thing is to have sex when you’re most fertile which is typically around week two to three of your menstrual cycle in those with regular ovulation. There are a variety of ways to track your fertility window.

How long does sperm live in the vagina?

Sperm will live 3-5 days in the vagina. That’s why, whether you want to get pregnant or avoid pregnancy, it’s important to know your ovulation cycle and your fertility window. Our free Ovulation Calendar can help you discover your most fertile days.

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