Rare double uterus pregnancy occurs twice within months at UAB
At UAB Hospital, a one-in-a-million pregnancy has happened twice now, just months apart.
Back in December, Kelsey Hatcher gave birth to two healthy babies.
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She was UAB's first dicavitary pregnancy patient, which means she carried two babies, one in each uterus.
Months after Hatcher's delivery, Shellie Pasco welcomed her babies into the world after she, too, learned she had a double uterus, and was carrying a child in each.
While these pregnancies are rare, there were many coincidences shared between these two moms.
Both live in Alabama, both received care from specialists at UAB and they even had shared acquaintances through church, allowing them to exchange numbers and connect.
Pascoe said she's feeling extremely thankful following her successful birth, but her journey to becoming a mom was one marked by resilience and faith.
After two miscarriages, she and her husband took time to grieve and process their traumatic losses.
Eventually, though, they began trying again, and Pascoe got a positive test.
"When I got that test, John and I were incredibly cautious," Pascoe said. "We kind of were guarding our hearts the whole time, and so when we went in for the first OB appointment, we really were just praying for just a healthy heartbeat and that we could sustain it for the whole pregnancy."
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They ended up getting that and much more, as the ultrasound technician discovered two heartbeats.
"It was pretty crazy because when we went in for the ultrasound that first eight-week appointment, I think it was, the ultrasound technician kind of did a double take and went back and forth on my belly and told us, 'actually, there's two heartbeats, here's one, here's the other.' Pascoe said.
She and her husband were initially in shock and then quickly got to planning.
They were referred to a specialist at UAB.
Here, Pascoe said they answered all her questions, preparing her mentally and physically for delivery.
As Dr. Brian Brocato explains, they decided to remove the babies via C-section.
"When we made that first incision to get the first baby out, it went very well," Brocato said. "That kid came out easily, and it was at that point that we could see the membranes just at the edge of the incision for the other uterus, and so that helped us know where to just extend that incision, and it turned out that it was just one lower uterine incision and that incision entered both cavities of the uterus and we were able to get both babies out."
Days after delivering Kaylee and Kamden, the Dothan family returned home, ready to start their new chapter together.
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Pascoe endured challenges and tragedy on her road to motherhood but said it's only made her more grateful for the time she gets with her beautiful babies.
"We obviously have friends and family members whose journey was a lot harder and longer to either get children," Pascoe said. "I think it just adds a level to it that I think hopefully will teach our children about just how special they are and not ever take something for granted."