California couple Odalis and Antonio Martinez took the ‘be fruitful and multiply’ edict to new levels when they ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇɪᴠᴇᴅ their youngest daughter just five days after ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇɪᴠɪɴɢ another daughter.
“I got pregnant when I was already pregnant,” the 25-year-old full-time mother of two from San Pablo, Calif., said. “I’m just saying they’re twins, but after reading a lot of articles, I know they’re technically not twins. But it’s just confusing to people, so I just tell them, ‘Yeah, they’re twins.’”
Her 9-month-old babies, Lilo and Imelda Martinez-Atoyac, were born minutes apart on August 10, 2021. The precious pair are the product of an extremely rare phenomenon known as sᴜᴘᴇʀꜰᴇᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ- a double pregnancy that happens when a ꜰᴇᴛᴜs is formed while another ꜰᴇᴛᴜs is already present in the ᴜᴛᴇʀᴜs.
And for newlyweds Odalis and Antonio, 31, who previously ᴍɪsᴄᴀʀʀɪᴇᴅ in July 2020, this motherhood “miracle” was exactly what the doctor ordered.
“I was extremely happy that the pregnancy test came back positive and we were on our way to pregnancy,” Odalis said. “I felt really lucky. I know many people who have tried to ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇɪᴠᴇ and just failed. So it was also one of my fears, but fortunately, it was not our case, and I got pregnant very quickly.”
Despite her elated character, the mom-to-be was also in the throes of the impending dread of another gestational disappointment.
“I felt really happy and also scared because of the ᴍɪsᴄᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ,” she explained. “It was pretty terrifying throughout my pregnancy, not knowing if this was going to be the outcome again. Hopefully for the best, but knowing that there is always a possibility that things will not go as planned.
Shortly after, Odalis received the sʜᴏᴄᴋ of her life during her first ultrasound visit – a session she nervously attended alone while Antonio waited outside due to C.O.V.I.D restrictions inside health facilities. The doctor finally blessed her with the big-bellied news that he had found the heartbeat of two babies inside her. The doctor was even able to determine the time of conception of the second child.
“When you go to the first ultrasound, they check everything and around the day you actually ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇɪᴠᴇᴅ the baby,” Odalis said. “That’s when she told me they were ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇɪᴠᴇᴅ five days apart, which I didn’t even know could happen.”
Despite the jaw-dropping sʜᴏᴄᴋ, the new mum-to-be was absolutely tickled pink. “I was just crying from happiness,” she said. “I felt like the first baby we ʟᴏsᴛ was in the room with me, telling me everything was going to be okay.”
The babies arrived on August 10, 2021. Lilo, who was ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇɪᴠᴇᴅ first was also born first weighing 6lbs 12oz, Imelda then followed, weighing 7lbs 3oz. “It was a very beautiful moment to finally be able to hold them in my arms,” Odalis said. “When I held them and knew they were fine, I can’t even explain the feeling.”
And now, even though the girls aren’t twins, the mother-of-multiples has admitted that she and Antonio often mistake their look-alike little ladies for each other. Regardless of the baby’s double bombshell and the ensuing mayhem, Odalis says her unexpected coo combo was the “best surprise ever” – especially after a ᴍɪsᴄᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ. “Because of our first experience, it made everything during this pregnancy so much more special and magical,” Odalis said. “I love my family and my husband, but I have never known love and happiness like this.”
