In the realm of extraordinary medical occurrences, one truly astonishing event has left the world in awe. Mónica Vega, a mother from Barranquilla, Colombia, gave birth to a baby girl named Itzamara, but what makes this birth truly unique is that Itzamara was born carrying her twin brother inside her, a rare phenomenon known as “fetus in fetu” or “parasitic twin,” which occurs only once every 500,000 births.
This fascinating and rare medical occurrence was revealed during a routine ultrasound in the seventh month of Mónica’s third pregnancy, with her husband Yamil by her side. The doctors confirmed that a smaller fetus was growing inside Itzamara’s womb, complete with its own umbilical cord and amniotic fluid.
The unusual case gained widespread attention when a well-known Colombian news channel featured it on television. This phenomenon is caused by a peculiar alteration in embryonic development, where the cells of the twin brothers do not divide properly, leading to asymmetric growth. Typically, this cell division should occur during the first week of pregnancy, but in cases like this, it happened much later, in this case, on the 17th week.
Remarkably, doctors discovered the situation before Itzamara was born, although in most cases, such conditions are diagnosed months or even years later, sometimes even being mistaken for tumors.
To ensure the well-being of both Itzamara and her twin brother, Surgeon Miguel Parra decided to schedule a cesarean section for Itzamara during the 37th week of her pregnancy, followed by a surgical procedure to safely extract her twin brother’s fetus.
Although the twin brother growing within Itzamara’s womb had developed extremities, a umbilical cord, and amniotic fluid, it lacked a heart or a brain, entirely relying on its sister for life.
Mónica gave birth to her daughter, and despite the worry that she would require surgery, she remained hopeful. Twenty-four hours after Itzamara’s birth, the surgical procedure took place, and fortunately, it was a success.
This miraculous occurrence has stirred worldwide amazement and set a precedent in the field of science. Thanks to the timely diagnosis and the skilled actions of the medical team, the baby managed to overcome the complexities of pregnancy and surgery.
The story of little Itzamara continues to make waves across the world, sparking conversations and wonderment on social media platforms and in scientific circles. It stands as a testament to the incredible capabilities of the human body and the extraordinary strides in medical science
