Madhya Pradesh: New born child found pregnant at birth

This condition, known as fetus in fetu in medical terminology, is an extremely uncommon phenomenon, occurring in only one out of millions of pregnancies.

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Mayank Kasyap
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New Delhi: A shocking and rare medical case has surfaced in Madhya Pradesh, where a child was discovered growing inside a newborn baby in the womb of a pregnant woman. This condition, known as fetus in fetu in medical terminology, is an extremely uncommon phenomenon, occurring in only one out of millions of pregnancies. The revelation was made during an ultrasound, and the newborn is now under medical supervision in the SNCU ward of the district hospital. Doctors are deliberating surgery to save the child's life.

Discovery during ultrasound examination

The rare condition came to light when a pregnant woman from the Sagar district visited a private clinic for a check-up in her ninth month of pregnancy. Dr. PP Singh, Chairman and Professor of the Radiology Department at Bundelkhand Medical College, noticed something unusual. Upon examining the ultrasound, there were signs of a second baby—or possibly a teratoma—growing inside the woman's womb.

Dr. Singh then referred the woman to the medical college for further investigation. However, accompanied by an ASHA worker, she returned to the Kesli Community Health Center, where she gave birth via a normal delivery.

Lump detected in baby’s stomach

During the ultrasound scan, a lump was visible in the stomach of the baby growing inside the woman’s womb. "When we conducted a Doppler scan, we saw blood flow, indicating the possibility of fetus in fetu," Dr. Singh explained. This rare condition involves a child developing inside another child.

A rare case in medical history

Dr. Singh emphasized the rarity of such cases, noting that in his long medical career, he had never seen anything like this before. "Such cases are extremely rare, occurring in about one in 500,000 pregnancies. To date, only around 200 documented cases exist worldwide, and they are available in online medical literature," he added.

CT scan confirms possibility of a child

The pregnant woman gave birth to a daughter through a normal delivery. A CT scan was conducted on the newborn girl, and the results suggest a high likelihood of another baby inside her womb. While there was a slight possibility of a teratoma, Dr. Singh noted that it was unlikely.

The newborn remains under observation, and doctors are weighing the risks and benefits of performing surgery to remove the second fetus.

This rare and fascinating case of fetus in fetu has drawn attention due to its rarity and the potential medical complications involved. The discovery has sparked discussions within the medical community, with doctors closely monitoring the condition to ensure the best possible outcome for the newborn.