Many of us know Siam twins as the first case of Siamese babies. This event became very famous in its time and we know that since then they have not been one of the first or the last cases. Now we know that the same patterns are repeated and there have even been new advances to try to solve this problem.
Siamese babies are twin brothers who, after birth, remain united in some part of their body. There is still no conclusive clarification of why this phenomenon occurs, we only know that they are striking cases and in many cases the babies have been able to separate successfully.
Why are there Siamese babies?
Everything starts from when the embryonic process begins to form inside the mother's womb. It is not yet known for sure why it occurs, but the data they do not point to a genetic defect but to a poor development in cell division. That is, to a mistake during the formation of monozygotic twins.
Zygotes are the cells that happen to be the union of male and female sex cells, which give rise to an embryo or living being. About the third week of gestation is when there is cell division, where there is a separation to form twins and from there each embryo is formed independently of each other. But due to the slowness of this separation, they grow together within the pregnancy. and in many cases getting to share organs.
Given the case and getting to be visualized by ultrasound, there are no means or ways to avoid this type of pregnancies. During pregnancy it is recommended that the mother follow a series of visits and protocols, and even maintain correct physical activity and a good diet.
How often does it happen?
It is estimated that it is a case that usually occurs every 200 thousand birthsAfrica being the most affected continent. Most of the cases end without being overcome and only 25% of them survive.
Types of Siamese babies
Siamese are cataloged depending on the joined parts of their body. Medicine classifies them:
Symmetrical conjoined twins: those twins who were born symmetrically united and the outer parts of their body have been united. It can also happen that they share the same entire body and be two-headed, with two heads.
Asymmetric Siamese twins: those twins who were born together but asymmetrically, in this case one of them is smaller than the other and may depend entirely on the more developed.
Where can they become united?
- By column: they can be attached back to back, all over your spine and buttocks. They can share organs such as the lower gastrointestinal tract and in some cases the genital and urinary organs.
- Abdomen: they are joined by your abdomen near the navel. In most of these cases they share organs such as the liver, small intestine and colon.
- Pelvis and trunk: they join through the pelvis on either side, either face-to-face or side-by-side. In other cases, the pelvic area has been joined together with the abdomen and chest, but with separate heads.
- Chest: they meet face to face at the chest. In this case, they can share the same heart, liver and part of the intestine.
- Head and chest: their heads are joined from the back or side, sharing a part of the skull. In other cases, their faces may be born side-by-side and with the chest attached. They share the same brain and it is an event that does not usually have very good survival expectations.