Woman “Pregnant” for 60 years since 1948

The Astonishing Case of Huang Yijun: A 60-Year Pregnancy

In a remarkable medical anomaly, 92-year-old Huang Yijun from southern China has been found to have carried a deceased fetus in her body for an astonishing 60 years. This extraordinary case is a rare phenomenon known as lithopedion, or “stone baby,” which occurs when a fetus calcifies instead of being expelled from the body.

Update 2024: It may be disturbing to some, so we’ve removed the image, but if you really want to see it, a copy of the image from 2009 is here. (After clicking, use your web browser’s “Back” button to return to this article.)

The Discovery

Huang’s unusual situation began in 1948 when she was informed by doctors that her fetus had died during pregnancy. At that time, the medical professionals recommended surgery to remove the deceased child; however, the cost was prohibitively high—more than her family could afford. Consequently, Huang made the difficult decision to leave the fetus inside her body, believing it would not cause any harm.

Decades later, after experiencing stomach pains, Huang sought medical help at Qingshen Hospital. An ultrasound revealed the shocking truth: she had been carrying a calcified fetus, now referred to as a “stone baby,” within her abdomen. Dr. Liu Anbin, who examined Huang, expressed his disbelief at this rare occurrence, stating, “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I discovered she had a baby in her belly” [1][4].

Understanding Lithopedion

The condition of lithopedion typically arises from an ectopic pregnancy, where the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. If the fetus dies and is too large to be reabsorbed by the mother’s body, it can become encapsulated in calcium deposits as a protective measure against infection from decomposing tissue. This process results in the formation of a hard mass that can remain undetected for years [1][4][9].

Historically, cases of lithopedion are exceedingly rare; only about 300 instances have been documented over 400 years of medical history. The average duration for carrying such a calcified fetus is approximately 22 years, with some women unknowingly living with their stone babies for much longer [1][4].

Comparisons with Other Cases

Huang Yijun’s case is not unique in its strangeness. In Indonesia, a woman named Taminah carried a dead fetus for 27 years before surgeons successfully removed it in 2009. Similarly, Zahra Aboutalib from Morocco lived with a lithopedion for 46 years after fleeing a hospital during childbirth [1][3][6]. These cases highlight not only the resilience of the human body but also the socio-economic factors that can prevent women from seeking necessary medical treatment.

Medical Implications

The discovery of Huang’s stone baby raises significant questions about women’s health and medical practices surrounding ectopic pregnancies. Experts emphasize that while most pregnancies proceed without complications, conditions like lithopedion remind us of the complex interplay between health care access and biological anomalies.

Dr. Natalie Burger, an endocrinologist and fertility specialist, notes that many women may experience early pregnancy symptoms that dissipate without further medical attention, leading them to believe they have simply lost the pregnancy [1]. In cases where financial constraints limit access to healthcare, women may endure years of carrying a lithopedion without realizing its presence.

Conclusion

Huang Yijun’s story is both fascinating and sobering, illustrating the extraordinary capabilities of the human body to adapt to extreme circumstances while also highlighting critical issues regarding healthcare access and education. As medical professionals continue to study such rare occurrences, they may uncover more about this enigmatic condition and its implications for women’s health globally.

As we delve deeper into this mind-boggling medical mystery, we are reminded of the resilience and complexity inherent in human biology—a testament to how much remains to be learned about our bodies and their remarkable capabilities.

Read More
[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/healthmain/curious-case-stone-baby-1c9926251
[2] https://www.vinmec.com/eng/article/is-placenta-calcification-dangerous-en
[3] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/chilean-woman-91-told-she-has-been-carrying-foetus-in-her-womb-for-60-years-10442526.html
[4] https://www.news18.com/viral/the-curious-case-of-chinese-woman-who-conceived-at-31-and-delivered-at-92-8542232.html
[5] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4414523/
[6] https://www.cnn.com/2015/08/04/americas/chile-elderly-woman-fetus/index.html
[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTLWu5W6lXM
[8] https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/pdf/10.1055/s-0040-1711474.pdf
[9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithopedion