In a cool twist of fate, two mothers, each with a rare double uterus condition, found themselves on parallel journeys, carrying two babies simultaneously, all under the care of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hospital. Shellie Pascoe and Kelsey Hatcher, both hailing from Alabama, shared not only the rarity of their medical condition but also the experience of delivering their babies at the same medical center.
Photography: Andrea Mabry
For Shellie Pascoe, the revelation of her double uterus came after enduring two miscarriages. With cautious optimism, she and her husband, John, embarked on their pregnancy journey, only to receive the surprising news during an ultrasound: they were expecting twins, with each baby nestled in a separate uterus. This phenomenon, known as a dicavitary pregnancy, occurs in approximately one out of every million pregnancies among women with a double uterus, a condition medically termed uterus didelphys.
Shellie’s journey was not without its challenges. Alongside the joy of expecting twins, she grappled with the increased risks associated with her condition and the trauma of previous miscarriages. However, with the specialized care provided by UAB’s maternal-fetal medicine team, led by Dr. Brian Brocato, Shellie received support in navigating her unique pregnancy.
Meanwhile, across the state, Kelsey Hatcher was also carrying the miracle of life within her double uteri. Two months ahead of Shellie in her pregnancy journey, Kelsey’s path intersected with Shellie’s through a remarkable coincidence facilitated by connections within their communities. Despite their geographical distance, the bond forged between these two mothers-to-be became a source of strength and encouragement as they faced the uncertainties of their rare pregnancies together.
“It is scary going through two losses and then finding out I have a rare condition and pregnancy,” Shellie said. “Connecting with Kelsey, being able to follow her journey and seeing her babies come out healthy provided us hope. It was also comforting to know that the UAB team was going to have a hands-on experience to learn from.”
Under Dr. Brocato’s and his team’s expert guidance at UAB, Shellie, and Kelsey embarked on their delivery journeys, each facing their own set of considerations and choices. While Kelsey opted for a combination of vaginal and cesarean delivery, Shellie and her care team decided on a scheduled cesarean section, prioritizing the safety of both mother and babies.
On March 6, 2024, at 39 weeks, the UAB Women and Infants Center welcomed the arrival of Kaylee and Kamden Pascoe.
“We had some concerns about making two internal incisions due to potential blood loss,” Brocato said. “Thankfully, the babies were positioned to where we could get both out with one larger incision. Kaylee, who was in the right uterus, came out first, followed by Kamden only two minutes later.”
Three days later the couple and their babies packed up and headed home.
“We knew our journey to have children would not be without challenges, but it made being able to finally take Kaylee and Kamden home that much richer,” John said. “We hope our journey will be a source of encouragement to others in the same way the UAB team and Kelsey were to us.”
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