In a rare case, the American Brittney Alba gave birth to identical twins of a rare type in which the fetuses share the same placenta and the same amniotic sac with two separate umbilical cords.
Alba previously gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl, named Luca and Levi.
This rare type represents 1 percent of all births in the United States, and involves complications and high risks.
In view of the high risks associated with the condition, doctors decided to resort to a caesarean section to preserve the health of the fetuses and the mother.
“The team conducted ongoing prenatal care, including monitoring the fetuses several times a day to ensure they were well,” the hospital said in a statement.
“This type of pregnancy puts twins at risk, because there are chances of umbilical cords getting tangled, but Alba managed to face all the odds,” said Dr. Rachel Cinke, a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology.