Most of the time, people have a decade or two (or even three!) before becoming pregnant. And in pretty much all instances, a woman is the one carrying the baby.
However, in this very rare case, Daily Mail reports that a baby boy was born in India with a fetus inside his stomach — and while still inside the womb.
The story that seemingly defies the laws of nature has a scientific explanation, though it does prove that fact can indeed be stranger than fiction.
While the baby boy is often described as looking "pregnant," it's actually a rare syndrome called fetus in fetu.
Experts speculate that the fetus found inside the boy was actually the newborn's twin, who didn't form properly and ended up absorbed into the stronger twin's body. Scroll through to learn more.
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According to Daily Mail, doctors first detected something unusual during a routine scan.
They noticed a growth inside the fetus' abdomen, and immediately suspected that the mass was another tiny fetus.
The condition is called fetus in fetu, otherwise known as having a parasitic twin, according to Twin Pregnancy and Beyond.
It's actually a rare twist on a fairly common condition called vanishing twin syndrome, where a small twin does not survive and is instead absorbed into the stronger twin, according to the American Pregnancy Association.
It is sometimes not detected until much later in life, and can cause serious health complications for the host twin.
The team of doctors in Mumbra, India, had a feeling that the boy's birth would be followed by the need for some serious medical attention, so they suited up in preparation.
No matter what, they knew they would have to remove the mass in the tiny infant's body to protect his life and give him a shot at a healthy, happy future.
The baby boy arrived just nine days after the growth was initially detected.
Upon his entry into the world, doctors operated to remove the mass and determine what it was.
As they has suspected, they found the newborn's "twin." The mass weighed only 150 grams, or about 5 1/2 oz.
It was about 7 cm long, or 2.75 inches, when it was removed, and was not very developed.
Dr. Thorat, who was on the scene, told Daily Mail:
I could see bones of the upper and lower limbs of the fetus. The unique thing about it was I could see a tiny head with the brain inside. However, this parasitic twin didn’t have a skull bone.
In other words, the fetus was partially formed, but never could have survived the pregnancy.
It's a good thing that the medical team acted quickly and with such know-how, because it could have led to death if it had been undetected.
According to Twin Pregnancy and Beyond, this sometimes happens very early in gestation, when the host twin absorbs the other. In this situation, there are usually few complications.
However, in this case, the "twins" were sharing the same umbilical cord, and malnutrition could have become a serious problem for the surviving twin. It could also have prevented his vital organs from functioning properly.
Luckily, the baby and his mother recovered nicely, and should both lead a normal life despite the initial complications.
This sweet baby boy is well on his way to recovery, and we couldn't be happier!
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