Melanie Bassett Becomes UK's First Woman To Give Birth To Triplets From Two Different Wombs

Melanie Bassett, 32, from Waterlooville, Hampshire has become the first woman in the UK to give birth to triplets from two different wombs. Bassett previously had two kids. She was stunned to know she had three more children coming when the doctors discovered that she was carrying identical babies in one of her wombs and another child in a second womb.

She first discovered that she had two wombs when she was pregnant with her first daughter Phoebe, in 2016. After that, she along with her husband Ben, 33, welcomed their first son Blake into the world.

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Melanie was not prepared her for the triple pregnancy though, with Brooke, Isabelle and Beau, all born in January.

The concept of conceiving twins from two wombs is known as uterus didelphys. It's rare and is estimated to be a one in a million occurrence. There are only four known cases of the condition leading to triplets and it is believed Melanie is the first example of it in the UK.

Uterus didelphys  is a congenital abnormality meaning there is a double uterus and also the possibility of a second vagina. Rather than looking like a regular womb, a person suffering from the abnormality has a heart-shaped womb with two chambers.

The condition does not make it harder for a woman to conceive but it does increase the risk of miscarriage or premature birth.

In an early eight-week scan, it was revealed to Melanie that there were two heartbeats. She however came to know in the 12-week scan that she was expecting triplets - miraculously growing in separate wombs.

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The couple was advised to go to fortnightly scans for the doctors to keep an eye on the pregnancy. The doctors were fearful that the triplets could develop twin to twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a rare pregnancy condition whereby multiple fetus share the same placenta.

On January 26, the triplets were born via C-section at 32 weeks.

Melanie is happy and looking forward to spending time this Christmas as a big family. She feels that her family is now complete.