Hou's husband posted a video on January 7, 2025, stating that his wife had developed a serious infection posing significant risks Photo: Screenshot from the video

A pregnant woman in Nanchang, East China's Jiangxi Province, who initially conceived nine babies and underwent two fetal reduction procedures to retain only twins, had her pregnancy terminated due to severe complications, according to a video posted by her husband on social media on Tuesday. He stated that his wife had developed a serious infection, which posed significant risks.

The wife, surnamed Hou, was diagnosed with uterine cysts and endometrial polyps nearly a year after getting married, which made conception difficult. Under medical supervision, she underwent ovulation induction therapy in early October of last year and became pregnant later that month. An ultrasound report revealed that she was carrying nine fetuses, drawing widespread attention online.

According to the video posted by her husband, Hou was in the mid-stage of pregnancy, carrying twins after undergoing two fetal reduction procedures. One of the twins suffered from oligohydramnios, with preliminary examination results indicating amniotic fluid depths of 12 mm and 32 mm.

In the video, her husband explained that while the Nuchal Translucency (NT) results were initially normal, his wife later developed an infection that caused cervical rupture and the amniotic sac to break. He stated that they couldn't save any of the babies, and continuing the pregnancy would have posed serious risks to Hou's health.

In November, Hou's husband shared a video on social media, noting her fragile health and petite stature. Citing the challenges of raising multiple children and the associated health risks, they opted for fetal reduction. Doctors had warned of the high risks involved in carrying nine fetuses, which might require multiple procedures.

Subsequently, Hou underwent two fetal reduction procedures, successfully removing four embryos in the first and three in the second. By late November, her husband shared updates showing two active fetal heartbeats, and doctors confirmed that the pregnancy had stabilized, allowing her to be discharged from the hospital.

Global Times