News, Two Deceased Triplets Removed From Abdomen of 1-Year-Old Girl. (baby, pregnancy)

[John1960]

A 1-year-old girl's deceased siblings were removed from her abdomen by Indonesian doctors at Sumatra island hospital, according to a report from French news agency AFP.

The two bodies, believed to be triplets that did not fully develop, were successfully removed from the girl Tuesday during a five-hour surgery, the head of medical services at the main state hospital in the West Sumatra city of Padang told AFP.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316525,00.html

[charolastra00]

These types of stories give me nightmares. O.O At least they found the bodies when she was young- I've heard absolute horror stories of them not finding the bodies until they are much older.

[cottonwood2420]

Originally Posted by John1960

A 1-year-old girl's deceased siblings were removed from her abdomen by Indonesian doctors at Sumatra island hospital, according to a report from French news agency AFP.

The two bodies, believed to be triplets that did not fully develop, were successfully removed from the girl Tuesday during a five-hour surgery, the head of medical services at the main state hospital in the West Sumatra city of Padang told AFP.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316525,00.html

That's crazy!

[OneDayInSomewhere]

WoW...that is just nuts. So glad the little girl came through it and is stable.

[cynwldkat]

Wouldn't you think the dead bodies would poison this child? I mean if a woman has her baby die inside her it causes poison?!!

[Homewardbound66]

I don't understand the dynamics of this. How can it occur? I guess I'm not real smart.

[Sampaguita]

It occurs very early on in the pregnancy when the other fetus/es die - usually by 11 weeks when most 1st term miscarriages will have already taken place.

In many cases, women are not even aware they are pregnant when this happens. Studies show that the occurrence of natural twins/triplets is more prolific than thought - but the resulting pregnancy is that of a singleton. The twin/triplets "vanish". This is often referred to as "vanishing twin/triplet syndrome".

When you have the vanishing twin/triplet scenario, the vanishing fetus is reabsorbed into the uterine lining or they settle in some other area of the uterus (sometimes settling on top of the cervix). In rare cases, certain parts of the fetus or a whole fetus as in this case, end up being absorbed into the remaining fetus and have the potential to follow its genetic code and grow into what it was meant to be (although w/out any life potential).

Because this happens so early in the pregnancy, there is less risk to the pregnancy. However, a fetus dying later in pregnancy - say 21 weeks - does pose potential risks of infection to the surviving fetus and can result in the loss of the entire pregnancy. At this late stage, the dead fetus would not be reabsorbed into the uterine lining nor would it become part of the live fetus. It would just stop growing and be delivered still-born. Again - not an ideal scenario as the risk of infection can result in spontaneous miscarriage/pre-term labor at a stage where the surviving fetus is not yet viable.

Hope that helps.

[Homewardbound66]

Originally Posted by Sampaguita

When you have the vanishing twin/triplet scenario, the vanishing fetus is reabsorbed into the uterine lining or they settle in some other area of the uterus (sometimes settling on top of the cervix). In rare cases, certain parts of the fetus or a whole fetus as in this case, end up being absorbed into the remaining fetus and have the potential to follow its genetic code and grow into what it was meant to be (although w/out any life potential).

Hope that helps.

It does help, but I can't believe I lived 41 years and have never heard of this. I have even had a child. I actually thought this was like a National Inquirer type story. That is how unbelievable it was to me. Thanks Sampaguita for taking the time to explain. Its incredible and very sad at the same time, but thanks for helping me understand. That poor family!!

[Sampaguita]

I'd never heard of this either until the last the last year where I've had friends with vanishing twin syndrome and learned about this. Otherwise, I too would have gone 41 yrs young without ever knowing about this!

[Roselvr]

Discovery health has had programs on it.. I am my own twin.

I did a search for the show but couldn't find it. Chimera on wiki