A pair of twins have beaten odds of 140,000-1 by being born with a shared birth sac and placenta.
The rare type of pregnancy is known as monoamniotic. In about half of cases typically, one or both babies fails to survive.
Emma Canning gave birth to the twins, Hannah and Sophie, on 27 December by Caesarean section at Birmingham Women's Hospital. The couple, who live in Stirchley, Birmingham, already have two young sons.
Monoamniotic pregnancies are dangerous because the twins' umbilical cords can become entwined around the babies inside the womb. Only 10 monoamniotic pregnancies occur in the UK each year, the hospital said.
Consultant Obstetrician Bill Martin, who delivered the twins, said: "The danger is the twins can swing around each other tangling the cords and if the cords are pulled tight then the babies can die inside the womb."
The twins are now on the neo-natal ward and it is hoped the babies will be able to go home in mid-January.
January 2008
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