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Hubei: In a rare medical case from China’s Hubei province, a woman gave birth to twin sons, a full decade apart. Yes, you read that right — twins born 10 years apart!
The mother, known as Wang, had long struggled to conceive and decided to try in vitro fertilisation (IVF) back in 2009. Doctors at the Hubei Maternal and Child Health Hospital successfully cultivated a batch of embryos. One embryo was implanted in October that year, and Wang gave birth to her first son, nicknamed ‘Lulu’, in June 2010.
Rather than discarding the remaining embryos, doctors froze them for possible future use. Fast forward to 10 years later, Wang returned to the same hospital hoping for another child. She was welcomed by the same doctor, Director Xiao Mei, who had helped her a decade earlier.
Incredibly, the IVF process worked again. Despite her age, Wang’s pregnancy went smoothly. She gave birth to her second son, ‘Tongtong’, via caesarean section on June 16, 2010 — exactly like Lulu. Even more astonishing: Tongtong weighed exactly 3.48 kilograms, the same as his older twin brother at birth.
From a medical standpoint, both boys are considered twins. They’re from the same batch of embryos, born from the same IVF cycle, with the same parents, same doctor, same birth month, same weight — and even the same gender.
According to the UK’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, good quality embryos can be frozen and stored for later use, allowing parents to preserve fertility or try for siblings later.
Though born 10 years apart, Lulu and Tongtong share a bond that’s scientifically fascinating and emotionally heartwarming. Talk about a long-lost twin reunion — from the womb!
