Latest news with #BrittanyHensel
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Conjoined twins Ultra rare conjoined twins are spotted with a newborn in tow nine months after sparking pregnancy rumours - but how can they have a baby?
Conjoined twins Abby and Brittany Hensel were spotted holding a newborn baby last week, sparking speculation that they have made good on their very public vow: 'We are going to be moms one day'. The siblings, 35, from Minnesota, are one of only a few sets of dicephalic twins in history, meaning they have two heads, two sets of lungs and two hearts but share a single body from the waist down, including their reproductive organs. When they were born in 1990, doctors warned their parents, Patty, a registered nurse, and Mike, a carpenter and landscaper, that their newborns were unlikely to survive the night. But they ended up defying the odds and went on to become regular names in the paper, going on Oprah aged six and soon having their very own TLC programme. However, as they grew up, much curiosity surrounded the twins' love life and their future plans for starting a family and getting married. Abby and Brittany were snapped carrying a newborn baby in a car seat and placing the infant into the back of a black Tesla at a parking lot in Arden Hills, Minnesota on Thursday last week. Nine months ago, in November 2024, they posted a video on their TikTok account with a series of headlines, one of which stated: 'Married and baby on the way.' Abby married U.S. Army veteran Joshua Bowling in 2021 but details of their nuptials only became public last year, when it also emerged Abby has become a stepmother to Bowling's daughter from a previous relationship, according to TMZ. Rumours the sisters have had a new addition to the family have led many to wonder how, and if, conjoined twins can carry children or give birth. Abby and Brittany have always been clear that they want to find romance and become mothers. In interviews throughout their teenage years, Abby said: 'Yeah, we are going to be moms one day, but we don't want to talk about how it's going to work yet.' Brittany added: 'We're going to be great moms. 'The whole world doesn't need to know who we are seeing, what we are doing and when we are going to do it.' Like most conjoined twins, Abby and Brittany - who share reproductive organs - have never publicly spoken about their sex life, despite immense public curiosity. Although Brittany - the left twin - can't feel anything on the right side of the body and Abby - the right twin - can't feel anything on her left, instinctively their limbs move as if coordinated by one person. This means they can conceive a child in the conventional way. If Abby or Brittany did go on to have biological children, they would be the first female dicephalic, or fused side-by-side, twins to do so. The siblings, 35, from Minnesota , are one of only a few sets of dicephalic twins in history However, it is not clear who would be the legal mother and if there would be complications with carrying a baby. It is also a possibility that the pair may have used a surrogate or adopted, if the baby is theirs. Abby and Brittany have previously discussed their desire to get married and have children of their own, however, they said it would be a private journey. Brittany said in a past interview: 'The whole world doesn't need to know who we are seeing, what we are doing and when we are going to do it. 'But believe me, we are totally different people.' Abby and Brittany have two heads, two brains, two spinal cords, and two hearts, which are part of a shared circulatory system. Despite having the same blood circulation system, their brains and spinal cords are their own, which means they have to work together to coordinate tasks, such as carrying items or getting to places. They had to each take a driving test, which they both passed, and work as a team to get from A to B. Brittany said that they both need too steer but her sister is in charge of the brake and acceleration pedals. There have only been two reported cases of conjoined twins giving birth and one involved sisters who had been surgically separated. A 2001 report by US medics at Atlanta Medical Centre in Georgia documented a childbirth by the Blazek sisters. Josepha and Rosa Blazek, born in 1878, were monogenital pygopagus twins, meaning they were conjoined at the base of the spine and pelvis but they had separate vaginas. The sisters claimed to have only had sex once, in July 1909, involving Rosa's vagina but Josepha claimed that she 'also had libido'. Rosa's final period prior to pregnancy occurred in July 1909. Nine months ago, they posted a peculiar video on their TikTok account in November last year with a series of headlines, one of which stated: 'Married and baby on the way' Writing in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the doctors said: 'The twins recalled that early in her pregnancy, Rosa experienced hyperemesis gravidarum, but Josepha was spared. Can conjoined twins have children? Conjoined twins are exceptionally rare and in many cases, the twins don't survive infancy. As such, there is only one case were pregnancy and delivery successfully achieved by the conjoined twins themselves, according to the US National Library of Medicine. Rosa and Josepha Blažek, born in Skrejšov, Bohemia in 1878, were joined at the posterior, and in 1909, Rosa had a son. Last year, a formerly conjoined twin gave birth where she and her sister were surgically separated as babies over two decades ago. Charity Lincoln Gutierrez-Vazquez and her twin sister Kathleen were attached from the breastbone to the pelvis when they were born in 2000. The sisters, who each had one leg, shared several internal organs and a third fused leg. When they were seven months old, they were successfully separated by a team of nearly 30 doctors, nurses, and support staff at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle during a dangerous 31-hour surgery. Twenty-one years later, Charity welcomed her baby girl, Alora, at the same hospital via cesarean section. 'Josepha continued to menstruate from her side of their shared vagina throughout Rosa's pregnancy and until approximately week 32.' In April 1910, Rosa welcomed a 'healthy' son delivered by vaginal birth. The baby was also breastfed. But no first-hand account of the baby's delivery was ever published in medical literature or additional details of the labour. Conjoined brothers, Chang and Eng Bunker, born in 1811, remarkably had 21 children between them. And in 2021, Charity Lincoln Gutierrez-Vazquez welcomed a healthy baby girl at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, the same hospital where she and her conjoined twin were born 21 years earlier. She and twin sister Kathleen were attached from the breastbone to the pelvis when they were born in 2000. The sisters, who each had one leg, shared several internal organs and a third fused leg. However, when they were seven months old, they were successfully separated by a team of nearly 30 doctors, nurses, and support staff during a dangerous 31-hour surgery. Conjoined twins Lupita and Carmen, 24, born in Mexico, share a bloodstream, pelvis, reproductive system and liver but not the same sexuality. Carmen has a boyfriend, but Lupita is asexual, meaning she doesn't experience sexual urges and has a low interest in sexual activity. Her sister met her boyfriend, Daniel, on Hinge in 2020 and although the pair see each other, Carmen shared in 2023 that they are not sexually active. Pink News reported at the time that Carmen and Daniel want to move in together and get engaged, but they decided against having children because they are unable to have them biologically. They are both on hormone blockers to stop their periods. Abby and Brittany are the rarest form of conjoined twins, the result of a single fertilised egg failing to fully separate in the womb. Conjoined twins occur when siblings have their skin or internal organs fused together. Just one set of twins in every 40,000 is born connected in some way to each other and only 1 per cent of those survive beyond the first year. It is caused by a fertilized egg beginning to split into two embryos a few weeks after conception, but the process stops before it is complete. The most common type is twins joined at the chest or abdomen. Doctors can only tell which organs the siblings share, and therefore plan surgery, after they are born. At least one twin survives 75 percent of the time. The Hensel twins thrust into the spotlight aged six, when they appeared on Oprah and started speaking to the press. They revealed to Oprah Winfrey that they tell each other all their secrets and can sense what the other is feeling, but can't read each other's minds. The pair even had their TLC show that chronicled their major life events, including high school graduation and job hunting. They have two spines (which join at the pelvis), two hearts, two oesophagi, two stomachs, three kidneys, two gall bladders, four lungs (two of which are joined), one liver, one ribcage, a shared circulatory system, and partially shared nervous systems. The twins, who have their own birth certificates and passports, are now fifth grade math teachers at an elementary school in New Brighton, Minnesota, where they were born and raised. They revealed that they divide up their responsibilities at work but only receive one single wage which they share between them. Although the sisters have two teaching licenses and were considered as individuals within the school system with two separate degrees, this isn't reflected in their finances. Abby previously told the BBC: 'Obviously right away we understand that we are going to get one salary because we're doing the job of one person. 'As maybe experience comes in we'd like to negotiate a little bit, considering we have two degrees and because we are able to give two different perspectives or teach in two different ways.' In a 2001 interview with Time, the twins' father Mike said his daughters had already then asked about finding husbands one day. He said: 'They're good-looking girls. They're witty. They've got everything going for them, except they're together.' Abby's relationship with Josh, who is a father-of-one, became public in March last year, when they announced their wedding. On TikTok account @abbyandbrittanyhensel, a clip revealed insight into Abby's wedding day - and a Facebook account titled Britt And Abby also featured a picture of the happy couple. For the ceremony, the twins sported a sleeveless wedding dress with lace trim detailing while the groom wore a grey suit. While Abby and Joshua made their relationship public, Brittany has kept her romantic life out of the spotlight. The Daily Mail has contacted Abby and Brittany for comment. How conjoined twins Abby and Brittany Hensel defied 1% chance of survival: Pair who share a body and major organs are the only female twins in the world with their condition Conjoined twins occur when siblings have their skin or internal organs fused together. Just one set of twins in every 40,000 is born connected in some way to each other and only 1 per cent of those survive beyond the first year. Conjoined twins are caused by a fertilised egg beginning to split into two embryos a few weeks after conception, but the process stops before it is complete. The most common type is twins joined at the chest or abdomen. Separation surgery success depends on where the twins are joined. Doctors can only tell which organs the siblings share, and therefore plan surgery, after they are born. At least one twin survives 75 per cent of the time. The most famous pair of conjoined twins was Chang and Eng Bunker, who were born in 1811 and travelled with PT Barnum's circus. They were born in Siam and were known as the Siamese twins. The Hensel girls are the rarest form of conjoined twins, the result of a single fertilised egg which failed to separate properly in the womb, resulting in dicephalic parapagus - where the twins have two heads and a single body with two arms and two legs. They have two spines (which join at the pelvis), two hearts, two oesophagi, two stomachs, three kidneys, two gall bladders, four lungs (two of which are joined), one liver, one ribcage, a shared circulatory system and partially shared nervous systems. From the waist down, all organs, including the intestine, bladder and reproductive organs, are shared. While they were born with three arms, one was removed surgically. Although Brittany - the left twin - can't feel anything on the right side of the body and Abigail - the right twin - can't feel anything on her left, instinctively their limbs move as if co-ordinated by one person, even when typing e-mails on the computer. It is rare for twins conjoined the way that Abby and Brittany are to survive into adulthood, but despite this they are in good health, without heart defects or organ failure. There is only one of set of twins living in the world with the same condition - brothers Ayşe and Sema Tanrıkulu who were born in Turkey in 2000.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Cojoined Hensel sisters spotted with newborn baby
Conjoined twins Abby and Brittany Hensel have been seen with a newborn baby alongside them. The sisters, who first rose to fame in the 1990s and later starred in their own TLC reality show, were seen carrying the infant in car seat on Thursday. The sisters have yet to confirm if the child is theirs. Daily Mail has contacted their representative for comment. The twins placed the baby into the back of a black Tesla at a parking lot in Arden Hills, Minnesota - 10 miles outside Minneapolis. The sighting has sparked renewed speculation about their lives following the recent revelation that Abby married U.S. Army veteran Joshua Bowling in 2021. Details of the marriage only became public last year, when it also emerged Abby has become a stepmother to Bowling's daughter from a previous relationship, according to TMZ. In a 2003 documentary titled Joined for Life the twins expressed interest in one day having children of their own. The public learned more about Abby's 'secret' marriage after obtained the couple's marriage records. Not long after, Bowling updated his Facebook profile to include a photo of himself with both Abby and Brittany, seeming to signal a united family front. Despite some online backlash and intrusive curiosity over how their relationship functions, the sisters have historically met criticism head-on. In a TikTok video posted after news of the marriage broke, they addressed the scrutiny directly writing, 'This Is a Message To All the Haters Out There. If You Don't Like What I Do But You Watch Everything I'm Doing You're Still a Fan.' Abby and Brittany, 34, are dicephalic conjoined twins - meaning they have two heads but share one body. Each controls one side: Abby controls the right arm and leg, Brittany the left and they share organs below the waist and have the same bloodstream. The Hensels became household names after appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1996 and later on the cover of LIFE magazine. Their TLC series followed them through college at Minnesota's Bethel University and on travels through Europe. No further details have been released about the baby.
News.com.au
a day ago
- General
- News.com.au
Legally, Abby and Brittany are two separate people
Conjoined twins Abby and Brittany Hensel are considered two separate individuals in every sense of the matter except one – and the revelation has left many horrified. The 34-year-olds were born with dicephalic parapagus, where two heads are attached to a single body. Each of the women have their own brain, heart, stomach and lungs, but share the same organs below the waist as well as the same bloodstream. They can also write, eat, run, and drive a car, both independently and in perfect sync, thanks to their co-ordinated brains and nervous systems. But while they are legally individuals, meaning they can enter into contracts, and even get married individually – Abby tied the knot to US army veteran Josh Bowling in 2021 – it has recently emerged the pair are struggling to be acknowledged as individuals in the workplace. The American sisters, who work as fifth grade teachers in Minnesota, revealed they divide up their responsibilities at work but only receive one single wage which they share between them. 'Obviously right away we understand that we are going to get one salary because we're doing the job of one person,' Abby, who controls the right side of their shared body, told the BBC previously. 'As maybe experience comes in we'd like to negotiate a little bit, considering we have two degrees and because we are able to give two different perspectives or teach in two different ways.' Brittany, the left-side conjoined twin, added: 'One can be teaching and one can be monitoring and answering questions. So in that sense we can do more than one person.' However, in order to qualify as teachers, the pair were considered as individuals within the school system and had to pay and pass two separate degrees at university. While the comments about their earnings were made in 2013, they have recently resurfaced on social media, and in light of a very different climate almost 12 years on, the situation isn't sitting well with people. 'Abby and Brittany, the well-known conjoined twins, had to pay two separate college tuition fees but now earn only one salary at their job,' a recent post shared by a pop culture Instagram account reads. Many were quick to flood the comments section, declaring it 'doesn't seem fair', as others questioned whether one could claim benefits if her physical situation was prohibiting her from getting her own job. 'Whatever university made these conjoined twins pay two tuitions needs to lose their accreditation,' one raged. 'They are twins, two individuals. Doing this implies they're each only half a person, it's inexcusable,' added another. As one declared: 'Makes zero sense.' 'That is shocking they are two different people two different brains they need two salaries,' one woman weighed in. 'This is disgusting behaviour from the powers that be!!' argued someone else. Some also pointed out the situation was 'complicated', adding it was hard to land on what the 'right thing to do' is given the rarity of their circumstances. Abby and Brittany rose to fame on a reality show that chronicled their major life events, including high school graduation and job hunting. The duo originally appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1996. When growing up, their parents Patty and Mike encouraged them to be their own selves and they both developed very different personalities and tastes. Abby is known as the feisty, stubborn one, while Brittany is considered the joker of the family. Even their tastebuds are different. Abby secretly married her husband in 2021, with her sister right by her side, the pair donning a lacy gown for the occasion. The nuptials only emerged in 2024 after wedding documents were obtained by US media, prompting the sisters to share never-before-seen snaps online. When the Hensel twins were born on March 7, 1990, doctors warned their parents they were unlikely to survive the night. That prediction was to be proven wildly wrong, with the sisters inspiring people around the world every day with their positive attitude to life.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Conjoined Hensel twins spotted with newborn baby
Published: | Updated: Conjoined twins Abby and Brittany Hensel have been spotted with a newborn baby in tow. The sisters, who first rose to fame in the 1990s and later starred in their own TLC reality show, were seen carrying the infant in a car seat on Thursday. The twins placed the baby into the back of a black Tesla at a parking lot in Arden Hills, Minnesota - 10 miles outside Minneapolis. The sisters have yet to confirm if the child is theirs. Daily Mail has contacted their representative for comment. The sighting has sparked renewed speculation about their lives following the recent revelation that Abby married U.S. Army veteran Joshua Bowling in 2021. Details of the marriage only became public last year, when it also emerged Abby has become a stepmother to Bowling's daughter from a previous relationship, according to TMZ. In a 2003 documentary titled 'Joined for Life,' the twins expressed interest in one day having children of their own. The public learned more about Abby's 'secret' marriage after obtained the couple's marriage records. In a TikTok video posted after news of the marriage broke, they addressed the scrutiny directly writing, 'This Is a Message To All the Haters Out There. If You Don't Like What I Do But You Watch Everything I'm Doing You're Still a Fan.' Once more in June 2024, the twins posted TikToks from Abby's wedding, including a clip of Abby and Bowling's first dance - set to a remix of Adele's 'Rolling in the Deep.' They posted an additional video captioned, 'We know you think you know us,' paired with Justine Skye's song 'Collide.' Abby and Brittany, 34, are dicephalic conjoined twins - meaning they have two heads but share one body.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Conjoined Hensel twins spotted with newborn baby in tow months after news of Abby's 'secret' wedding broke
Conjoined twins Abby and Brittany Hensel have been spotted with a newborn baby in tow. The sisters, who first rose to fame in the 1990s and later starred in their own TLC reality show, were seen carrying the infant in car seat on Thursday. The twins placed the baby into the back of a black Tesla at a parking lot in Arden Hills, Minnesota - 10 miles outside Minneapolis. The sisters have yet to confirm if the child is theirs. Daily Mail has contacted their representative for comment. The sighting has sparked renewed speculation about their lives following the recent revelation that Abby married U.S. Army veteran Joshua Bowling in 2021. Details of the marriage only became public last year, when it also emerged Abby has become a stepmother to Bowling's daughter from a previous relationship, according to TMZ. In a 2003 documentary titled 'Joined for Life,' the twins expressed interest in one day having children of their own. The public learned more about Abby's 'secret' marriage after obtained the couple's marriage records. Not long after, Bowling updated his Facebook profile to include a photo of himself with both Abby and Brittany, seeming to signal a united family front. Despite some online backlash and intrusive curiosity over how their relationship functions, the sisters have historically met criticism head-on. In a TikTok video posted after news of the marriage broke, they addressed the scrutiny directly writing, 'This Is a Message To All the Haters Out There. If You Don't Like What I Do But You Watch Everything I'm Doing You're Still a Fan.' Once more in June 2024, the twins posted TikToks from Abby's wedding, including a clip of Abby and Bowling's first dance - set to a remix of Adele's 'Rolling in the Deep.' They posted an additional video captioned, 'We know you think you know us,' paired with Justine Skye's song 'Collide.' Abby and Brittany, 34, are dicephalic conjoined twins - meaning they have two heads but share one body. Each controls one side: Abby controls the right arm and leg, Brittany the left and they share organs below the waist and have the same bloodstream. The Hensels became household names after appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1996 and later on the cover of LIFE magazine. Their TLC series followed them through college at Minnesota's Bethel University and on travels through Europe, where they provided viewers with rare insight into their everyday lives. As of now, no further details have been released about the baby.
