Monday, a 2-headed baby was born in Brazil. After an emergency C-section, doctors delivered a healthy 10.1-pound infant (conjoined twins) in Anajas, located in the northeastern Para State. Physicians are not sure if it is necessary to remove one of the heads at this time.
Two Headed Baby: Details of Conjoined Twins’ Birth
Watch Video of Baby Born with Two Heads
When a 23-year-old woman arrived at a local hospital in Anajas complaining of abdominal pain, she believed it was time to deliver her child, a single one. Instead, doctors told her she would deliver a baby with two heads. The Daily Mail reports that Jesus and Emanoel were name in tribute to Christmas.
According to a Fox News report, the woman was surprised about the news of conjoined twins because throughout the pregnancy, she did not have the typical ultrasound to determine the sex and health of the growing baby inside. The 2-headed baby in Brazil would need a staff experienced with caring for conjoined twins.
She was then transported to another hospital equipped with providing better care for the delicate procedure of possibly removing one of the heads.
"I want her [the mother] to understand that she does not have a monstrous son, a son with two heads, but she has two sons." ~ Neila Dahas, OB/GYN at the Santa Casa de Misericordia Hospital on the baby born with two heads
Baby Born with Two Heads: Rare Births Pose Dilemma for Doctors, Families
While it is comforting to know the child survived the C-section with two heads, doctors realize that the odds are against the survival of at least one of the conjoined twins. Because Jesus and Emanoel share vital organs in the body, there is a great deal of stress on the growing body of the infants.
As their nutritional needs increase with time, one may cope or thrive better than the other. Therefore, at some point, there may be the need to surgically remove one of the heads to ensure the survival of the other. But who makes that decision? How does a mother decide which one is fit to live? It’s a tough moral dilemma.
"Despite all the problems we have as a small interior hospital we managed to save both mother and baby, which was our aim," said hospital director Claudionor Assis de Vasconcelos on the conjoined twins
According to the New York Post, the birth of the 2-headed baby in Brazil Monday is not the first occurrence this year. Early this year, a 27-year-old woman gave birth to a baby born with two heads as well. Sadly, the conjoined twins died only hours later after oxygen could not reach one of the heads.
Hopefully, the 23-year-old mom who gave birth to Jesus and Emanoel embraces the children and give them both the love they deserve just as any other loving pair of children.
Don't forget to watch the news video of the 2-headed baby of Brazil and share this story on Facebook and Twitter.
© 2011 Bruce Baker, All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced without prior permissions from the author or Clarity Digital Group LLC d/b/a Examiner.com
Do you have a passion for something that you would like to share? Why not write about it with examiner.com and get paid? Click here to link to examiner.com and start sharing your knowledge today.
Comments