Conjoined 'snake twins' born in China

A mother has given birth to conjoined twins dubbed the "snake babies" as they are attached at the waist. Hui Chung, in Xiaogan, eastern China, had been expecting two healthy, separate twins but when she gave birth the babies shared one long body with a head at each end.

Scans and ultrasound tests failed to pick up that the babies were joined at the waist despite a series of routine medical checks for the mother during her prgenancy.

The siblings, born at Daoqiao Township Hospital on June 19, with a combined weight of 13lbs 2oz, do not even have external sexual organs and doctors have been unable to say what sex the twins are.


Photo from here.

Miss Chung said: "It is a huge shock. We are discussing what we can do to separate them but that costs a great deal of money and we are not rich."

Father Zhang Jianjun, 29, said he has been told the operation was likely to cost at least £50,000. "I am a farmer and we don't have that sort of money but we want to help our children," he said.

Further tests and scans will be needed before doctors can assess whether the twins would be suitable for an operation separating them.