Born with uterus didelphys, a birth defect that results in two reproductive systems in one body: a womb, cervix and vagina split down the middle, each half the size of one healthy uterus, Loren Cotter had been told she might not survive childbirth.
The 34-year old woman is now a mom of four kids ranging from 15 months to 5 years old — even though doctors warned her it might not ever happen. According to researchers, about one in every 3,000 women is born with a double uterus.
The elementary school teacher from Melbourne, Australia, received her unusual diagnosis at age 16, after two years of agonizing periods that began when she was 14. When an ultrasound revealed she had the rare condition, her doctor informed her that bearing children was unlikely.
Still, she went forward with surgery to remove the dividing wall through her vagina, which allowed her to have a more normal sex life.
But her uterus remained split, which left an increased likelihood of miscarriage and stillbirth.
According to her, he met her husband at 17, and knew she had to be honest with the would-be father after they were married in 2012.
“From quite early on, Ben and I discussed having children and it was clear that he really wanted to be a dad,” she told PA Real Life.
“I knew I had to be open and honest and tell him that might not be a possibility for me.”
Ben said he’d be supportive no matter the outcome. Nevertheless, just a year into their marriage, the couple went to work on getting pregnant — though they didn’t have to try for long.
“But actually, we have found it easy to fall pregnant,” she said. “I am not sure why, or if it has anything to do with my two vaginas.”
