One woman, Two wombs, Three babies

AN ENGLISH woman is believed to be the first mother in the world to have given birth to triplets conceived in two different wombs.

Hannah Kersey was born with the rare condition, uterus didelphys, which leads to the abnormal development of the reproductive organs.

The condition meant Ms Kersey 23, developed two wombs, and she was told by medical experts that it was highly unlikely that she would become pregnant in both.

Earlier this year, however, scans showed she was to have triplets, one from one womb and two from the other.

The three girls were born by Caesarean in September — seven weeks prematurely. Identical twins Ruby and Tilly, were first, and Gracie, was born shortly afterwards.

They were kept in hospital for nine weeks before returning home to Northam, in Devon with Hannah and her partner Mick Faulkner, aged 23.

Ms Kersey explained that the babies were conceived from two eggs — one in each womb — fertilised at the same time by two different sperm.

One egg then divided, producing identical twins, while the other developed into a single baby.

Ms Kersey is reported as saying: “We are just over the moon at how healthy and happy the girls are.

“They are three lovely and incredible children, all with very different personalities.

“Gracie seems to be the ringleader — maybe because she grew up in her own womb.

“She is very determined and independent, always wanting her food before the others and to do things first.

“Ruby is very laid back and quiet, happy to sit and watch what is happening around her.

“But Tilly, who was the baby that struggled to survive inside me, is a real fighter, wanting to keep up with her sisters and not be left out.”

Only 70 women in the world are known to have been pregnant in two wombs, and doctors say this could be the first reported case of a woman with two wombs having triplets.

Mr Ellis Downes, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Chase Farm Hospital in London, is reported as saying: “This is so rare you cannot put odds on it.

“I have never heard of this happening anywhere ever before — it is quite amazing.”