Miracle and a Medical Mystery: Baby “Pregnant” with Twins in India

In an astonishing and extremely rare medical event, doctors in India recently removed two parasitic twins from the abdomen of a one-month-old baby girl. While sensational headlines may say the baby was “born pregnant with twins,” the scientific reality is more complex — and more incredible.This is not a true pregnancy. What you’re seeing is a congenital anomaly called fetus-in-fetu (FIF), where a malformed twin becomes enveloped inside its sibling very early in development.

The Case: What Happened in India

The case was treated at Fortis Memorial Research Institute in Gurugram. According to the hospital’s press release, two parasitic fetuses (or “twins”) were successfully removed.They estimated that only about 35 such cases (with two parasitic twins) have ever been documented globally. The condition is extremely rare — around 1 in 500,000 live births. Today +1The baby’s parents first noticed something was wrong when they saw her abnormally distended abdomen, and she had difficulty feeding and seemed unusually irritable.TodayAfter detailed scans, doctors identified the internal parasitic twins, and after surgery, the baby was reported to be recovering.

What Is Fetus-in-Fetu (FIF)?

Definition & Mechanism

Fetus-in-fetu is a very rare developmental anomaly where one twin becomes enveloped by the other during early embryonic life. The “parasitic twin” doesn’t develop in a normal way — it may be malformed, lacking full organ systems, and typically can’t survive on its own.

2.Medical Implications

These internal fetuses usually do not behave like tumors (though they may be mistaken for one). In many of these cases, once removed, recurrence is unlikely. Because of their structure, they can draw blood supply from the host twin, which is why they may become large enough to cause physical symptoms (like swelling).

3. Diagnosis & Treatment

Diagnosis is often made via ultrasound, CT scans, or MRI. The standard treatment is surgical removal, after which patients (especially infants) often recover well.

Why This Case Is So Important

Rarity: Most documented FIF cases involve only one parasitic fetus; two is exceedingly rare. �India TodayMedical Milestone: The successful surgery in Gurugram adds to the body of knowledge about how to treat such complex congenital anomalies. Clinical Awareness: Cases like this raise awareness among obstetricians and pediatricians, emphasizing the need for careful imaging when there are unexplained abdominal masses in infants.Research: Each case helps researchers better understand early twin development, embryonic division, and how anomalies like FIF occur.