Health and Me

Tanya Dutt

Mom Gives Birth To Extremely Rare “MoMo” Twins In Back-To-Back Pregnancies Within 13 Months

In an extraordinary and rare medical case, mother Britney Alba of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, delivered two pairs of identical twins over a mere 13 months. Such a feat is mind-boggling, much less likely to happen than winning a jackpot or being hit by lightning. Alba had her second set of identical twins at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Women and Infants Center, which is a case that has captivated medical personnel as well as the general public.

Alba's second pair of twins were not only identical but also monoamniotic-monochorionic (MoMo) twins, one of the most unusual forms of twin pregnancies. <span>MoMo twins</span> have the same placenta, amniotic sac, and fluid, which makes them extremely vulnerable to life-threatening complications. This condition is extremely rare, found in fewer than 1% of all births in the United States.

The four-year-old mother was at first shocked upon being told she was pregnant with twins again, just six months after the birth of her first twins, Luka and Levi. As at first thrilled, she and her husband Frankie, later had to confront the harsh reality of the risks involved in carrying MoMo twins.

<h2>Medical Risks Involved in MoMo Pregnancies</h2>

According to Dr. Rachel Sinkey, a UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology assistant professor, MoMo twins are among the highest-risk twin pregnancies. "They have everything in common except umbilical cords, which could easily get tangled up and cause fetal distress or a stillbirth," Dr. Sinkey said.

Because of these dangers, Alba's <span>pregnancy</span> was intensively monitored. Doctors in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at UAB suggested she be placed on a high-risk obstetrics unit during weeks 24 through 28 of gestation. She eventually went in at 25 weeks, where she underwent around-the-clock monitoring to reduce the risk of complications of umbilical cord entanglement and others.

<h2>A High-Stakes Delivery and Postnatal Care</h2>

Due to the increased risk of MoMo pregnancies, doctors take careful precautions to have the baby delivered as safely as possible. Following the national standard of care, Alba had a planned cesarean section at 32 weeks, since after this week, waiting longer could further enhance the risk of complications in the umbilical cord.

The second pair of twins, Lynlee and Lydia, were delivered on October 25, 2022. Immediately after they were born, the twins were sent to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to receive specific attention. The twins stayed for some weeks in the newborn nursery before being discharged on December 7, marking the culmination of a trying yet successful experience for Alba and her family. 

<h2>Comparing Alba's Two Twin Pregnancies</h2>

Alba's initial set of twins, Luka and Levi, were monochorionic-diamniotic (MCDA) twins, so they had the same placenta but separate amniotic sacs. While this form of twin pregnancy has risks, they are higher with MoMo twins and it happens at a frequency of three or four in every 1,000 live births.

MCDA twins, such as Luka and Levi, are at risk for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), where one twin gets dramatically more blood and nourishment than the other. Thankfully, both Luka and Levi were delivered without issues. But the MoMo twin pregnancy of Lynlee and Lydia was even riskier because the babies lacked a separating membrane, so there was greater risk for life-threatening umbilical cord intersections.

<h2>Management of MoMo Twin Pregnancies</h2>

MoMo pregnancies need careful monitoring to maximize outcomes. The routine management is frequent ultrasound, inpatient care in the latter part of pregnancy, and scheduled early delivery by cesarean section. This reduces significantly the risk of stillbirth and other complications.

Dr. Sinkey stressed the significance of multidisciplinary care in treating such high-risk pregnancies. "The team care at UAB, including maternal-fetal experts, genetic counselors, nurses, and the NICU team, was instrumental in achieving a good outcome for Britney and her daughters," she stated.

Though MoMo twins experience tremendous challenges prior to birth, post-birth care is just as essential. Because of their premature delivery, Lynlee and Lydia needed intensive care in the NICU, where they were under constant surveillance for breathing, feeding, and general growth. The twins were discharged in December 2022, which was a welcome end to their amazing adventure.

The case of Alba illustrates the value of specialized medical care during high-risk pregnancies. Though weighed heavily against her, the experience of her family is one of tribute to medicine's progress, caring healthcare providers, and a mother's strength.

MoMo twin gestations are a field of significant interest in maternal-fetal medicine because they are extremely rare and so high-risk. Alba's experience of back-to-back twin pregnancies, where the second is MoMo twins, is among the most rare documented cases.

From disbelief at first about learning she was pregnant with twins once again to the monitoring and eventual successful birth, her story highlights the power of medical expertise and parental unyielding strength. Her account will be the subject of study for years to come as a rare but motivational instance of beating the odds in maternal health.

Health Conditions A-Z

health

pregnancy

momo twins

rare twin pregnancy

identical twins birth

high-risk pregnancy

monoamniotic monochorionic twins

twin pregnancy complications

alabama mother twins

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In an extraordinary and rare medical case, mother Britney Alba of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, delivered two pairs of identical twins over a mere 13 months. Such a feat is mind-boggling, much less likely to happen than winning a jackpot or being hit by lightning. Alba had her second set of identical twins at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Women and Infants Center, which is a case that has captivated medical personnel as well as the general public.Alba's second pair of twins were not only identical but also monoamniotic-monochorionic (MoMo) twins, one of the most unusual forms of twin pregnancies. MoMo twins have the same placenta, amniotic sac, and fluid, which makes them extremely vulnerable to life-threatening complications. This condition is extremely rare, found in fewer than 1% of all births in the United States.The four-year-old mother was at first shocked upon being told she was pregnant with twins again, just six months after the birth of her first twins, Luka and Levi. As at first thrilled, she and her husband Frankie, later had to confront the harsh reality of the risks involved in carrying MoMo twins.Medical Risks Involved in MoMo PregnanciesAccording to Dr. Rachel Sinkey, a UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology assistant professor, MoMo twins are among the highest-risk twin pregnancies. "They have everything in common except umbilical cords, which could easily get tangled up and cause fetal distress or a stillbirth," Dr. Sinkey said.Because of these dangers, Alba's pregnancy was intensively monitored. Doctors in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at UAB suggested she be placed on a high-risk obstetrics unit during weeks 24 through 28 of gestation. She eventually went in at 25 weeks, where she underwent around-the-clock monitoring to reduce the risk of complications of umbilical cord entanglement and others.A High-Stakes Delivery and Postnatal CareDue to the increased risk of MoMo pregnancies, doctors take careful precautions to have the baby delivered as safely as possible. Following the national standard of care, Alba had a planned cesarean section at 32 weeks, since after this week, waiting longer could further enhance the risk of complications in the umbilical cord.The second pair of twins, Lynlee and Lydia, were delivered on October 25, 2022. Immediately after they were born, the twins were sent to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to receive specific attention. The twins stayed for some weeks in the newborn nursery before being discharged on December 7, marking the culmination of a trying yet successful experience for Alba and her family. Comparing Alba's Two Twin PregnanciesAlba's initial set of twins, Luka and Levi, were monochorionic-diamniotic (MCDA) twins, so they had the same placenta but separate amniotic sacs. While this form of twin pregnancy has risks, they are higher with MoMo twins and it happens at a frequency of three or four in every 1,000 live births.MCDA twins, such as Luka and Levi, are at risk for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), where one twin gets dramatically more blood and nourishment than the other. Thankfully, both Luka and Levi were delivered without issues. But the MoMo twin pregnancy of Lynlee and Lydia was even riskier because the babies lacked a separating membrane, so there was greater risk for life-threatening umbilical cord intersections.Management of MoMo Twin PregnanciesMoMo pregnancies need careful monitoring to maximize outcomes. The routine management is frequent ultrasound, inpatient care in the latter part of pregnancy, and scheduled early delivery by cesarean section. This reduces significantly the risk of stillbirth and other complications.Dr. Sinkey stressed the significance of multidisciplinary care in treating such high-risk pregnancies. "The team care at UAB, including maternal-fetal experts, genetic counselors, nurses, and the NICU team, was instrumental in achieving a good outcome for Britney and her daughters," she stated.Though MoMo twins experience tremendous challenges prior to birth, post-birth care is just as essential. Because of their premature delivery, Lynlee and Lydia needed intensive care in the NICU, where they were under constant surveillance for breathing, feeding, and general growth. The twins were discharged in December 2022, which was a welcome end to their amazing adventure.The case of Alba illustrates the value of specialized medical care during high-risk pregnancies. Though weighed heavily against her, the experience of her family is one of tribute to medicine's progress, caring healthcare providers, and a mother's strength.MoMo twin gestations are a field of significant interest in maternal-fetal medicine because they are extremely rare and so high-risk. Alba's experience of back-to-back twin pregnancies, where the second is MoMo twins, is among the most rare documented cases.From disbelief at first about learning she was pregnant with twins once again to the monitoring and eventual successful birth, her story highlights the power of medical expertise and parental unyielding strength. Her account will be the subject of study for years to come as a rare but motivational instance of beating the odds in maternal health.