A mum has become the first woman in the UK to give birth to triplets from two different wombs.

Melanie Bassett, 32, was already a mum-of-two but was left stunned when doctors made the discovery that she was carrying identical babies in one of her wombs and another child in a second womb.

The parent first discovered she had two wombs when she was pregnant with her first child Phoebe, now three, in 2016.

Along with her husband Ben, 33, Melanie, from Hampshire, then welcomed their first son Blake into the world in 2019.

But in January this year, the couple were amazed to welcome triplets, Brooke, Isabelle and Beau.

Having twins from two wombs, commonly known as uterus didelphys, is estimated to be a one in a million occurrence. And Melanie is thought to be the first example of the rare case in the UK.

Melanie has uterus didelphys which also creates the possibility of a second vagina. Rather than looking like a regular womb, the mum’s womb is heart-shaped with two chambers.

The condition doesn’t make it harder for a woman to conceive but it increases the risk of a miscarriage or premature birth. The mum had her first and second children via C-section.

Then two months after welcoming her second chid via CS, Melanie discovered she was pregnant again. It wasn’t until the 12-week scan where the sonographer told the couple they were expecting triplets in separate wombs.

Melanie and Ben were advised to go for scans every fortnight so doctors can keep an eye on the pregnancy.

The triplets were eventually born via C-section at 32 weeks on January 26 this year.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen has tested positive for the coronavirus disease.

She announced this in a statement she personally signed and released. She says she has gone into isolation and is receiving treatment.

Read the press statement from her below

”PRESS STATEMENT

Following interaction with individuals that later show asymptomatic sign of COVID19, I have been advised by my medical team to undergo the test and self isolate for observation over the past few days.

This is to inform the general public that after undergoing a test carried out on myself and members of my family, my result returned positive while that of members of my family tested negative.

Currently, I am asymptomatic and have gone into isolation during the period of treatment. Please keep me in your prayers and I implore you all stay safe and observe all COVID-19 protocols as we grapple with this pandemic.

I urge you all to please take responsibility for yourself and family in order to protect our dear country even more at this time.

Signed:

Dame Pauline K. Tallen OFR, KSG

Minister of Women Affairs

26th December 2020.”