Rare double womb twins: Chinese woman with two uteruses delivers a baby each from both

In an unusual medical case in northwest China, a woman known only by her surname, Li, gave birth to twins from both of her uteruses in September.

This rare condition , which affects only 0.3 percent of women globally, allowed Li to have two fully formed uteruses, each equipped with ovaries and oviducts.

Li delivered a boy and girl at Xi’an No 4 hospital in Shaanxi province, eight and a half months into her pregnancy.

Both babies were delivered in good health, with the boy weighing 3.3 kg and the girl weighing 2.4 kg.

Senior obstetrician Cai Ying mentioned the rarity of such cases, saying, “Being pregnant in each of the two uteruses through natural conception is very rare,” and highlighted that successful births after 37 weeks are even less common, describing it as a “one in a million” occurrence.

According to a report by China's state broadcaster CCTV, a woman in Alabama, USA, gave birth to twin girls in December last year, each from a different uterus.

Women with two uteruses often face complications during pregnancy, including a higher risk of miscarriages, premature births, and other serious health issues.

Li had previously experienced a miscarriage at 27 weeks due to unknown factors. Following her pregnancy confirmation in January, doctors at the Xi’an hospital developed a comprehensive plan to ensure her safety throughout the pregnancy.

The twins were born via caesarean section, with the boy weighing 3.3 kg and the girl 2.4 kg. Li and her newborns were discharged just four days post-delivery.

The news of her extraordinary birth caught major attention on Chinese social media, with some observers humorously expressing that the twins "lived in separate villas" inside their mother’s womb.

However, others reminded the public of the challenges associated with such a pregnancy, recalling the struggles faced by women with similar conditions.