Woman, 32, born with two vaginas and two wombs discovers she’s pregnant with ‘miracle’ baby
Krista Schwab, 32, was diagnosed with uterine didelphys, which means she has two vaginas, two wombs and two cervixes
A WOMAN born with two vaginas and two wombs is expecting a "miracle" baby, after doctors warned she was infertile.
Medics believed Krista Schwab could never get pregnant, because of complications caused by her rare condition.
The 32-year-old was diagnosed with uterus didelphys at the age of 12.
Since starting trying for a baby with her husband Courtney, 33, the couple have endured two miscarriages and had given up hope of having a baby.
But as they began to consider IVF, Krista discovered she was pregnant.
The horse trainer from Washington, in the US, said: "After being diagnosed with uterine didelphys at 12 years old, I knew I had two uteruses and two cervixes.
"But when I was 30, I found out that I also have two vaginas that are side by side.
"I always felt the separate sections during intercourse and smear tests but I just thought that feeling was a normal thing every woman had."
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It was when she was just 13 years old, that doctors warned Krista she may never have kids of her own.
She said sex can be "extremely sensitive and can hurt", knocking her self-confidence and affecting her sex life.
When she met her husband, Krista, then 20, told him she was infertile.
As a result the couple don't use protection.
For years despite the warnings from doctors, Krista said she and her husband cried and prayed they would become parents.
"We both had so many breakdowns because we wanted one so much," she said.
"After probably 1,000 negative pregnancy tests it got to the point where I gave up wishing anymore.
"Last December I put on weight so I bought my billionth pregnancy test, which my husband and I thought was just now a waste of money.
"I normally pray and hope while I wait, but this time I lost all hope and didn't bother.
WHAT IS UTERINE DIDELPHYS?
Uterus didelphys is a rare condition where a woman’s uterus fails to fuse properly during development in the woman.
Also known as double uterus, the condition means women are born with two uteri, two separate cervixes and sometimes two vaginas.
The two wombs are often slightly smaller than the average womb in order to allow them both to fit.
Symptoms:
A double uterus often causes no symptoms. The condition may be discovered during a regular pelvic exam or during imaging tests to determine the cause of repeated miscarriages.
Women who have a double vagina along with a double uterus may suffer heavy menstrual bleeding that isn’t stopped by a tampon.
In these situations, the woman has placed a tampon in one vagina, but blood is still escaping from the second uterus and vagina.
Women who continue to bleed after a tampon has been used or have extreme menstrual pain should see a doctor.
Causes:
There is no known causes as to why some women develop two wombs, although genetic factors have been considered.
Risks and complications:
Many women have normal sex lives, pregnancies and deliveries.
But sometimes a double uterus can cause:
- infertility
- miscarriage
- premature birth
- kidney abnormalities
Source: Mayo Clinic
"Then I saw it, it was positive. I hit the floor crying."
Krista is now five months pregnant and is expecting a baby boy, growing in her left womb.
Most women with uterine didelphys have to give birth via C-section.
But the 32-year-old said she still hopes to have a natural birth.
"Because of my two vaginas the baby will have to come down the left side vagina," she explained.
"Doctors think I'll have to have a C-section but I'm dreaming of a natural water birth.
"It's incredible because doctors still don't understand it."
She said after a decade of hoping and trying for a baby, she can't believe her dream will come true.
And added: "I want women with uterine didelphys to never let anyone tell them miracles can't happen because they do."
Dr Nick Raine-Fenning, spokesman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said: "The uterus forms in utero by the fusion of two tubes, which are called the mullerian ducts.
"The wall between the tubes breaks down before birth in its lower aspect leaving one womb and one cervix whilst the upper parts stay separate and form the two fallopian tubes.
"The process can go wrong at any time leaving two completely separate tubes and therefore two uteri and two cervixes, as well as two vaginas, known as uterine didelphys or double uterus, at one extreme or one uterus separated by a muscular wall which is a septate uterus.
"Uterine anomalies, as they are called, have been associated with infertility, miscarriage, and preterm delivery."
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