Woman gets pregnant while already pregnant, it’s only happened 10 times ever

Deonna Fletcher was trying to have a baby and was excited when she saw the line appear on the pregnancy test.

But what the 26-year-old from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, didn’t realize was that she was actually already pregnant — with twins conceived six days earlier.

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She is one of only 10 documented cases of ‘superfetation’ – a condition so rare that the chance of it happening is ‘almost zero’.

Now mother of four little ones Amani, Amber and Dream, all three – and a son Antonio Junior or AJ, two – Deonna speaks exclusively to Fabulous:

WITH sore breasts and no sign of my period, I had no doubt I was pregnant.

“Are you ready?” I said to my partner of almost two years, Antonio Livingston, 26, who was taking a test.

“Let’s do it,” he replied.

We only tried it for a few months, but a little later we saw two lines appear. Needless to say, we were ecstatic.

Sudden pain

An early scan confirmed the pregnancy was viable. But six weeks later, while working as a hairstylist at work, I was clutching my stomach in pain.

“I’m having a miscarriage,” I thought as panic consumed me.

I rushed to the hospital where Antonio met me. He held my hand while I had a scan.

“The baby is doing well, but there is still a sac,” the doctor said in surprise. “With two babies inside.”

“So there are three?” I said confused. “How is that even possible?”

The doctor seemed as surprised as we were.

“This is extremely rare,” he said, unable to tell us more.

At home the news started to sink in. Even though we were trying to have a baby, the fact that we were outnumbered by three would mean we would really have our hands full.

“We can do this, right?” I said to Antonio. “Of course we can,” he reassured me.

Unexpected surprise

At our next appointment we sat down with a doctor.

“You’ve experienced superfetation,” he said.

It meant I became pregnant twice in one week, with the first fraternal baby conceived six days before the other two.

It was so unusual that the chance of it happening was almost zero. According to the Cleveland Clinic in the US, a non-profit organization specializing in medicine, only ten people in history have experienced this.

“You ovulated twice, but at two different times,” he added.

Triple trouble

Since I was a teenager, I suffered from irregular periods, sometimes twice a month. It is likely that this is why it happened.

He explained that due to the unusual circumstances of my pregnancy, which he advised were identical, there was a risk that I was at risk of developing twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), which could be fatal if you consume too many nutrients and the other too little.

“It is your choice whether or not you want to end the treatment,” the doctor said.

Antonio and I immediately shook our heads. We couldn’t possibly choose between them.

Our family and friends were stunned by our news and loved watching my triplet bump grow.

At 18 weeks Antonio came for a gender scan.

“What do you think?” he asked.

“Two boys and a girl,” I replied.

We only found out during our gender reveal party.

“One, two, three!” Antonio counted. Then we popped two huge balloons.

‘Almost zero chance’

Everyone cheered as pink confetti filled the air.

“Three girls?” I shouted.

We chose the names, Amani, Amber and Dream.

Feeling the babies kick became the best part of my day.

The pregnancy went smoothly, with no signs of TTTS, and the babies all distributed amniotic fluid evenly.

Early arrival

One day, when I was 24 weeks old, I was sitting on the couch watching TV with my sister.

“I can’t wait for your baby shower next week,” she said.

“Me neither,” I replied.

When I stood up, I felt a rush between my legs.

“My waters broke.” I said. “It’s too early.”

I was just over 24 weeks.

Antonio rushed home and took me straight to the hospital.

Luckily I still had plenty of fluid left.

Bed rest to stay safe

Wanting to make sure the triplets stayed inside me as long as possible, the doctors put me on bed rest in the hospital.

Antonio helped me with my meals, got me out of bed and helped me shower. I couldn’t have done it without him.

Two weeks later it was our two-year anniversary.

He helped me into a wheelchair and pushed me to the balcony on the fifth floor of the hospital. To my surprise, there was a table for two overlooking the atrium, complete with champagne for him and beautiful flowers for me.

Antonio gave me a single red rose and then took my hand.

He pulled out a beautiful pear-cut diamond ring and got down on one knee.

Surprise number two…

“Will you be my wife?” he asked. I hated having to cancel my baby shower, but the proposal certainly made up for it.

In January 2021, at 32 weeks, I was wheeled into the theater for a C-section.

Once Amani, Amber and Dream were delivered, they were taken to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for a check-up.

Hours later I visited them.

Although premature, they flourished.

My milk supply was enough to breastfeed all three girls.

A month later, we strapped the triplets into their car seats and took them home.

How to tell them apart

Antonio and I had them on the same schedule, and family pitched in so I could get some sleep. We also put personalized anklets on them to keep them apart.

For their first birthday, we had a virtual party on YouTube.

Just before they turned two, we got another surprise.

I was pregnant again. Luckily this time it was just the one.

Pregnant again… but alone!

In October 2022, we welcomed a boy, Antonio Junior, aka AJ.

The triplets fell in love with him and hugged him at every opportunity.

Now Amani, Amber and Dream are three, and like peas in a pod. AJ is never short of attention.

When I first took that pregnancy test, I never dreamed I would have three girls – and a boy too!

Being a parent is the hardest job in the world.

Our children keep me on my toes, test my patience, and help me find humor in the chaos.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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