{"id":1351,"date":"2024-11-28T15:03:49","date_gmt":"2024-11-28T15:03:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/?p=1351"},"modified":"2024-11-28T15:03:52","modified_gmt":"2024-11-28T15:03:52","slug":"can-these-conjoined-twin-sisters-be-separated-safely-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/archives\/1351","title":{"rendered":"Can These Conjoined Twin Sisters Be Separated Safely? (Video)"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class='\"entry-header\"'><iframe loading='\"lazy\"' title='\"Can' these conjoined twin sisters be separated safely body bizarre src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/www.youtube.com%5C/embed%5C/bKS6Bxl9Vqw?feature=oembed%5C%22" width='\"735\"' height='\"413\"' frameborder='\"0\"' allowfullscreen='\"allowfullscreen\"' data-mce-fragment='\"1\"'>\n<div class='\"entry-content\"'>\n<h1 class='\"style-scope' ytd-watch-metadata>Can These Conjoined Twin Sisters Be Separated Safely?\n</h1><p>These conjoined twin sisters are heading on a journey that could potentially change their lives forever. Follow them and their family as they travel to a hospital in the Philippines to find out if they can be separated safely. attached at the forehead have undergone tests to begin the process of separating them\n<section class='\"bg-blue-050' py-rem56px data-identity='\"page-header\"'>\n<div class='\"container\"'>\n<h1 class='\"text-gray-900' font-black leading-rem44px text-rem40px bp600:text-rem48px bp600:leading-rem52px max-w-headerwide data-identity='\"headline\"'>Conjoined Twins\n<div class='\"w-[40px]' h- bg-brandblue-500 mt-rem40px data-identity='\"horizontal-bar\"'>Conjoined twins are caused by two embryos that are joined together during fertilization, resulting in twins that are physically connected, most commonly at the abdomen, chest or head. Conjoined twins are rare. Complications can be reduced with close management from healthcare professionals.\n\n\n<div class='\"container' mt-rem48px mb-rem64px bp900:mb-rem88px>\n<div class='\"hidden' bp900:block bp900:pl-rem48px bp900:row-span-2 bp900:w-1 bp900:float-right data-identity='\"article-sidebar\"'>\n<div>\n<div class='\"sticky' pt-rem16px mb-rem32px>\n<div class='\"hidden' bp1100:flex max-w- min-w- m-auto items-center justify-center bg-gray-300 pt-rem16px pb- mb-rem32px data-identity='\"billboard-ad\"'>\n<div class='\"max-w-[300px]' mx-auto>\n<div class='\"hidden' bp1100:flex flex-col items-center justify-center>\n<div class='\"text-rem13px' text-gray-900 pt-rem16px max-w- mx-auto data-identity='\"ad-policy\"'>\n<p>Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.\n\n\n\n\n<section class='\"flex' flex-col justify-start max-w- bp600:max-w- bp900:max-w- bp600:gap-x-rem32px mt-rem48px bp900:mt-0 mb-rem32px data-identity='\"callout\"'>\n\n\n\n<div class='\"bp900:pr-rem48px' bp900:border-r bp900:border-gray-400 bp900:w-2>\n<div data-identity='\"article-navigation\"'>\n<div class='\"hidden' bp900:block w- fixed top-0 left-0 bg-white z- py-rem16px border-b border-b-gray-400 duration-300 ease-in-out translate-y-0 visible opacity-100 data-identity='\"desktop-sticky-nav\"'>\n<div class='\"flex' flex-wrap gap-y-rem16px gap-x-rem32px container text-rem16px data-identity='\"desktop-sticky-nav-links\"'>Overview\n\n\n\n<div class='\"bp900:pr-rem48px' bp900:pt- bp900:border-r bp900:border-gray-400 bp900:border-1 bp900:w-2 data-identity='\"main-article-content\"'>\n<div>\n<div id='\"overview\"' class='\"scroll-mt-[112px]\"' data-identity='\"article-section\"'>\n<figure class='\"bg-gray-300' bp600:bg-transparent bp900:mt-rem8px bp900:pl-rem16px bp900:pr-0 py-rem16px px-rem24px bp900:max-w- bp900:float-right bp900:w- data-identity='\"figure\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' class='\"w-full' bp600:border-4 bp600:border-gray-300 src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/my.clevelandclinic.org%5C/-%5C/scassets%5C/images%5C/org%5C/health%5C/articles%5C/22895-conjoined-twins%5C%22" alt='\"Twin' girls joined at the shoulder share a liver and diaphragm. data-identity='\"featured-image\"'><figcaption class='\"text-gray-900' text-rem13px leading-rem20px mt-rem12px data-identity='\"figure-caption\"'>Twin conjoined twins girls joined at the shoulder.\n<div class='\"\"' data-identity='\"rich-text\"'>\n<h3 class='\"text-gray-900' font-bold leading-rem30px text-rem25px bp600:text-rem32px bp600:leading-rem38px mt-rem32px mb-rem16px break-words data-identity='\"headline\"'>What are conjoined twins?\n</h3><p class='\"text-gray-800' my-rem16px text-rem19px leading-rem34px data-identity='\"paragraph-element\"'>When two babies are physically connected to each other at birth, they\u2019re called conjoined twins. Experts don\u2019t know exactly what causes the condition. But it likely involves splitting or fusion of very early-stage embryos soon after fertilization. All conjoined twins are identical, and about two-thirds are assigned female at birth (AFAB).\n</p><h3 class='\"text-gray-900' font-bold leading-rem30px text-rem25px bp600:text-rem32px bp600:leading-rem38px mt-rem32px mb-rem16px break-words data-identity='\"headline\"'>How common are conjoined twins?\n</h3><p class='\"text-gray-800' my-rem16px text-rem19px leading-rem34px data-identity='\"paragraph-element\"'>Conjoined twins are rare. It\u2019s estimated to occur only once in every 50,000 pregnancies. Because the conjoined anatomy is sometimes incompatible with life, many conjoined embryos will not survive. Up to 60% of conjoined twins are stillborn (not alive at birth) or die shortly after delivery.\n</p><h3 class='\"text-gray-900' font-bold leading-rem30px text-rem25px bp600:text-rem32px bp600:leading-rem38px mt-rem32px mb-rem16px break-words data-identity='\"headline\"'>Are conjoined twins always identical?\n</h3><p class='\"text-gray-800' my-rem16px text-rem19px leading-rem34px data-identity='\"paragraph-element\"'>Yes. Conjoined twins are always identical. They\u2019re also more likely to be female.\n</p><div class='\"hidden' bp1100:block data-identity='\"native-ad-desktop\"'>\n<div id='\"native_desktop\"' class='\"ad-reset' my-rem64px empty:my-0 bp1100:w-full bp1100:overflow-hidden _hold-size data-identity='\"native-ad-slot\"'>Symptoms and Causes\n\n\n\n\n<div>\n<div id='\"symptoms-and-causes\"' class='\"scroll-mt-[112px]\"' data-identity='\"article-section\"'>\n<div class='\"\"' data-identity='\"rich-text\"'>\n<h3 class='\"text-gray-900' font-bold leading-rem30px text-rem25px bp600:text-rem32px bp600:leading-rem38px mt-rem32px mb-rem16px break-words data-identity='\"headline\"'>What causes conjoined twins?\n</h3><p class='\"text-gray-800' my-rem16px text-rem19px leading-rem34px data-identity='\"paragraph-element\"'>There are two theories of what causes conjoined twins:\n</p><ul class='\"my-rem16px' mx-0 pl- list-disc marker:text-brandblue-500 marker:pl-rem24px data-identity='\"unordered-list\"'>\n<li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px><strong>Fission:\u00a0An early embryo, comprising a small sphere of identical cells, splits into two spheres but doesn\u2019t separate completely. The two spheres each develop independently into the conjoined twins.\n<li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px><strong>Fusion:\u00a0An identical twin pregnancy contains separate early twin embryo \u201cspheres\u201d that merge together and join at a random point of connection.\n\n<p class='\"text-gray-800' my-rem16px text-rem19px leading-rem34px data-identity='\"paragraph-element\"'>Both of these theories help explain how conjoined twins might form during the first 12-14 days of fertilization. But scientists still don\u2019t know why this happens.\n<figure id='\"attachment_2965\"' class='\"wp-caption' alignnone aria-describedby='\"caption-attachment-2965\"'><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"size-full' wp-image-2965 src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/thefactsusa.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2024%5C/11%5C/maxresdefault-7.jpg%5C%22" sizes='\"auto,' srcset='\"https:\/\/thefactsusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/maxresdefault-7.jpg' https: alt='\"Conjoined' twins width='\"1280\"' height='\"720\"'><figcaption id='\"caption-attachment-2965\"' class='\"wp-caption-text\"'>Conjoined Twins\n<h3 class='\"text-gray-900' font-bold leading-rem30px text-rem25px bp600:text-rem32px bp600:leading-rem38px mt-rem32px mb-rem16px break-words data-identity='\"headline\"'>What are the types of conjoined twins?\n</h3><p class='\"text-gray-800' my-rem16px text-rem19px leading-rem34px data-identity='\"paragraph-element\"'>Conjoined twins are identified by specific terms. These terms describe the point of connection. Twins may be conjoined at the:\n</p><ul class='\"my-rem16px' mx-0 pl- list-disc marker:text-brandblue-500 marker:pl-rem24px data-identity='\"unordered-list\"'>\n<li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>Abdomen (omphalopagus).\n</li><li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>Chest (thoracopagus).\n</li><li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>Top of head down to the belly button, facing each other (cephalopagus).\n</li><li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>Head only (craniopagus).\n</li><li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>Pelvis, facing each other (ischiopagus).\n</li><li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>Pelvis, side-to-side (parapagus).\n</li><li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>Rump-to-rump (pygopagus).\n</li><li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>Vertebral column (rachipagus).\n\n\n\n\n<div>\n<div id='\"diagnosis-and-tests\"' class='\"scroll-mt-[112px]\"' data-identity='\"article-section\"'>\n<h2 class='\"text-gray-900' font-bold leading-rem34px text-rem32px bp600:text-rem40px bp600:leading-rem44px mt-rem56px mb-rem16px break-words data-identity='\"headline\"'>Diagnosis and Tests\n<div class='\"\"' data-identity='\"rich-text\"'>\n<h3 class='\"text-gray-900' font-bold leading-rem30px text-rem25px bp600:text-rem32px bp600:leading-rem38px mt-rem32px mb-rem16px break-words data-identity='\"headline\"'>How are conjoined twins diagnosed?\n</h3><p class='\"text-gray-800' my-rem16px text-rem19px leading-rem34px data-identity='\"paragraph-element\"'>Conjoined twins can be identified as early as 12-weeks prenatally through imaging tests, including:\n</p><ul class='\"my-rem16px' mx-0 pl- list-disc marker:text-brandblue-500 marker:pl-rem24px data-identity='\"unordered-list\"'>\n<li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>Ultrasound.\n</li><li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>MRI.\n\n<p class='\"text-gray-800' my-rem16px text-rem19px leading-rem34px data-identity='\"paragraph-element\"'>If imaging tests show that twins are conjoined, healthcare providers will try to predict potential complications. Then they\u2019ll make a plan to address them at the time of birth.\n\n\n\n</p><div>\n<div id='\"management-and-treatment\"' class='\"scroll-mt-[112px]\"' data-identity='\"article-section\"'>\n<h2 class='\"text-gray-900' font-bold leading-rem34px text-rem32px bp600:text-rem40px bp600:leading-rem44px mt-rem56px mb-rem16px break-words data-identity='\"headline\"'>Management and Treatment\n<div class='\"\"' data-identity='\"rich-text\"'>\n<h3 class='\"text-gray-900' font-bold leading-rem30px text-rem25px bp600:text-rem32px bp600:leading-rem38px mt-rem32px mb-rem16px break-words data-identity='\"headline\"'>Are there complications during pregnancy with conjoined twins?\n</h3><p class='\"text-gray-800' my-rem16px text-rem19px leading-rem34px data-identity='\"paragraph-element\"'>It is very common for birthing parents to experience\u00a0premature labor\u00a0with conjoined twins. With early detection, the pregnancy can be managed to prevent pre-term labor and allow the twins to develop normally.\n</p><p class='\"text-gray-800' my-rem16px text-rem19px leading-rem34px data-identity='\"paragraph-element\"'>Delivery by\u00a0C-section\u00a0is the most common way to manage this situation.\n</p><h3 class='\"text-gray-900' font-bold leading-rem30px text-rem25px bp600:text-rem32px bp600:leading-rem38px mt-rem32px mb-rem16px break-words data-identity='\"headline\"'>Can conjoined twins be separated?\n</h3><p class='\"text-gray-800' my-rem16px text-rem19px leading-rem34px data-identity='\"paragraph-element\"'>Sometimes. Successful management usually involves several medical and surgical specialists. Sophisticated imaging techniques and other tests can help sort out the anatomy and physiology of both twins. The decision to attempt separation or not can bring up difficult ethical questions. These questions are usually discussed at length between the parents, the medical team, and often clergy and medical ethicists.\n</p><p class='\"text-gray-800' my-rem16px text-rem19px leading-rem34px data-identity='\"paragraph-element\"'>In some cases, it\u2019s possible to separate conjoined twins. The procedure to separate twins always takes extensive planning by a team of highly experienced surgeons.\n</p><p class='\"text-gray-800' my-rem16px text-rem19px leading-rem34px data-identity='\"paragraph-element\"'>After conjoined twins are born, they are grouped into one of three categories:\n</p><ul class='\"my-rem16px' mx-0 pl- list-disc marker:text-brandblue-500 marker:pl-rem24px data-identity='\"unordered-list\"'>\n<li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px><strong>No separation:\u00a0If separation would pose life-threatening risks to the twins or result in extreme disabilities, surgical separation would only be attempted after consideration of all quality-of-life issues.\n<li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px><strong>Immediate separation:\u00a0Sometimes emergency surgical separation is required to save the life of one and\/or both twins.\n<li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px><strong>Delayed separation:\u00a0When the twins are stable from a health standpoint, your medical team may delay separation surgery. This gives the twins time to grow and develop \u2014 and it increases their chance of survival. Many healthcare providers feel that surgical separation should take place when conjoined twins are 9 to 12 months old. This way, they can be separated before the condition takes a psychological toll. Twins who experience delayed separation have a higher survival rate (80%) over twins who need immediate separation.\n\n\n\n\n<div>\n<div id='\"prevention\"' class='\"scroll-mt-[112px]\"' data-identity='\"article-section\"'>\n<h2 class='\"text-gray-900' font-bold leading-rem34px text-rem32px bp600:text-rem40px bp600:leading-rem44px mt-rem56px mb-rem16px break-words data-identity='\"headline\"'>Prevention\n<div class='\"\"' data-identity='\"rich-text\"'>\n<h3 class='\"text-gray-900' font-bold leading-rem30px text-rem25px bp600:text-rem32px bp600:leading-rem38px mt-rem32px mb-rem16px break-words data-identity='\"headline\"'>Can conjoined twins be prevented?\n</h3><p class='\"text-gray-800' my-rem16px text-rem19px leading-rem34px data-identity='\"paragraph-element\"'>Since the cause of conjoined twins is unknown, there\u2019s no way to prevent conjoined twins from occurring during pregnancy.\n\n\n\n</p><div>\n<div id='\"outlook-prognosis\"' class='\"scroll-mt-[112px]\"' data-identity='\"article-section\"'>\n<h2 class='\"text-gray-900' font-bold leading-rem34px text-rem32px bp600:text-rem40px bp600:leading-rem44px mt-rem56px mb-rem16px break-words data-identity='\"headline\"'>Outlook \/ Prognosis\n<div class='\"\"' data-identity='\"rich-text\"'>\n<h3 class='\"text-gray-900' font-bold leading-rem30px text-rem25px bp600:text-rem32px bp600:leading-rem38px mt-rem32px mb-rem16px break-words data-identity='\"headline\"'>What is the prognosis for conjoined twins?\n</h3><p class='\"text-gray-800' my-rem16px text-rem19px leading-rem34px data-identity='\"paragraph-element\"'>Survival rates and quality of life for conjoined twins depend entirely on how the two babies are connected. Here are the survival rates for each type:\n</p><ul class='\"my-rem16px' mx-0 pl- list-disc marker:text-brandblue-500 marker:pl-rem24px data-identity='\"unordered-list\"'>\n<li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>Abdomen (omphalopagus): 82%.\n</li><li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>Rump-to-rump (pygopagus): 68%.\n</li><li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>Pelvis, facing each other (ischiopagus): 63%.\n</li><li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>Chest (thoracopagus): Poor.\n</li><li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>Pelvis, side-to-side (parapagus): Poor.\n</li><li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>Top of head to bellybutton (cephalopagus): Poor.\n</li><li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>Head only (craniopagus): Poor.\n</li><li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>Vertebral column (rachipagus): Cannot be separated.\n\n<p class='\"text-gray-800' my-rem16px text-rem19px leading-rem34px data-identity='\"paragraph-element\"'>If separation surgery is attempted, only 60% of surgically separated conjoined twins survive. Healthcare providers can manage complications to improve the outlook for conjoined twins.\n</p><h3 class='\"text-gray-900' font-bold leading-rem30px text-rem25px bp600:text-rem32px bp600:leading-rem38px mt-rem32px mb-rem16px break-words data-identity='\"headline\"'>Can conjoined twins lead a healthy life?\n</h3><p class='\"text-gray-800' my-rem16px text-rem19px leading-rem34px data-identity='\"paragraph-element\"'>Depending on how the twins are joined, conjoined twins may live fully functioning lives thanks to advancements in surgical separation. Some conjoined twins who can\u2019t be separated can still enjoy a good quality of life if they\u2019re closely monitored.\n\n\n\n</p><div>\n<div id='\"living-with\"' class='\"scroll-mt-[112px]\"' data-identity='\"article-section\"'>\n<h2 class='\"text-gray-900' font-bold leading-rem34px text-rem32px bp600:text-rem40px bp600:leading-rem44px mt-rem56px mb-rem16px break-words data-identity='\"headline\"'>Living With\n<div class='\"\"' data-identity='\"rich-text\"'>\n<h3 class='\"text-gray-900' font-bold leading-rem30px text-rem25px bp600:text-rem32px bp600:leading-rem38px mt-rem32px mb-rem16px break-words data-identity='\"headline\"'>During pregnancy, when will I know if I have conjoined twins?\n</h3><p class='\"text-gray-800' my-rem16px text-rem19px leading-rem34px data-identity='\"paragraph-element\"'>Conjoined twins can be identified as early as 12 weeks into your pregnancy. Your provider can usually confirm this around the 20-week mark.\n</p><h3 class='\"text-gray-900' font-bold leading-rem30px text-rem25px bp600:text-rem32px bp600:leading-rem38px mt-rem32px mb-rem16px break-words data-identity='\"headline\"'>What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?\n<ul class='\"my-rem16px' mx-0 pl- list-disc marker:text-brandblue-500 marker:pl-rem24px data-identity='\"unordered-list\"'>\n<li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>Where are my twins connected and what organs are shared?\n</li><li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>Will separation of my twins be possible?\n</li><li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>Will immediate separation be necessary?\n</li><li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>How can premature labor be prevented?\n</li><li class='\"mb-rem12px' pl-rem12px text-gray-800 text-rem19px leading-rem34px>Is there a team of specialists available to monitor and treat my babies before and after they\u2019re born?\n\n<p class='\"text-gray-800' my-rem16px text-rem19px leading-rem34px data-identity='\"paragraph-element\"'><strong>A note from Cleveland Clinic\n<p class='\"text-gray-800' my-rem16px text-rem19px leading-rem34px data-identity='\"paragraph-element\"'>The very last thing parents want to hear is that there\u2019s something unexpected going on with their developing fetuses. Since we don\u2019t know why conjoined twins happen, the rare condition can\u2019t be prevented. After diagnosis, you\u2019ll want to start working with a team of highly qualified medical professionals who can monitor the development of your twins, help you develop a birth plan and start to discuss surgical interventions. Treatment of conjoined twins depends on where they\u2019re conjoined and the extent of organ sharing. But there are surgical and medical options for many conjoined twins who survive birth. It\u2019s normal to have a range of intense feelings, including fear, anger, guilt and sadness. Remember that your healthcare team is there to support you each step of the way.\n\n\n\n</p><div class='\"mt-rem56px\"' data-identity='\"social-share-links\"'>\n<div class='\"gap-rem24px' flex flex-wrap>Conjoined twins Abby and Brittany Hensel share new photo of themselves with Abby\u2019s husband\n\n\n\n<div data-mol-fe-article-body='\"true\"'>\n<p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>A pair of conjoined twins who were cast into the limelight by a reality show in the 2010s have resurfaced in a rare photo with one of their husbands.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>Abby and Brittany Hensel, stars of the TLC series Abby &amp; Brittany, are seen smiling alongside Joshua Bowling in the\u00a0<span data-track-module='\"internal-body-link\"'>previously unseen\u00a0snap, three years removed from Abby and Bowling\u2019s wedding.\n<p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>Posted to Bowling\u2019s\u00a0Facebook, the photo was taken this past September.\n</p><div class='\"connatix-wrapper\"'>\n<div id='\"ias-8f54d4e0-4100-4169-88b6-f0aadf5632c7\"' class='\"connatix-placeholder\"'>It\u2019s<span data-track-module='\"internal-body-link\"'>\u00a0the first time\u00a0the sisters have been pictured in months after several images were shared from Abby and Joshua\u2019s 2021 ceremony, which was only made public months ago.\n\n<p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>Held in secret, and now-known nuptials saw the 34-year-old sisters don the same dress. However, as news of the arrangement emerged,\u00a0<span data-track-module='\"internal-body-link\"'>an array of criticisms\u00a0were launched \u2013 several citing how the two share the same sex organs.\n<p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'><span class='\"mol-style-bold\"'>Scroll down for video:\u00a0\n<div class='\"artSplitter' mol-img-group>\n<div class='\"mol-img\"'>\n<div class='\"image-wrap\"'>\n<p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' id='\"i-e2bd40d6ba5efad4\"' class='\"blkBorder' img-share src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/i.dailymail.co.uk%5C/1s%5C/2024%5C/10%5C/28%5C/16%5C/91375425-14010833-image-a-4_1730131508723.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"Abby' and brittany hensel stars of the tlc series abby are seen smiling alongside joshua bowling in previously unseen snap three years removed from wedding width='\"634\"' height='\"634\"' data-gallery-handler-attached='\"true\"'>\n\n\n</p><p class='\"imageCaption\"'>Abby and Brittany Hensel, stars of the TLC series Abby &amp; Brittany, are seen smiling alongside Joshua Bowling in the previously unseen snap, three years removed from Abby and Bowling\u2019s wedding\n\n</p><div class='\"artSplitter' mol-img-group>\n<div class='\"mol-img\"'>\n<div class='\"image-wrap\"'>\n<p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' id='\"i-83f929bb21319d1f\"' class='\"blkBorder' img-share src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/i.dailymail.co.uk%5C/1s%5C/2024%5C/10%5C/28%5C/16%5C/91375339-14010833-image-m-7_1730131524410.jpg%5C%22" alt="\&quot;It's" the first time sisters have been pictured in months after several images were shared from abby and joshua ceremony which was only made public ago width='\"634\"' height='\"739\"' data-gallery-handler-attached='\"true\"'>\n\n\n</p><p class='\"imageCaption\"'>It\u2019s the first time the sisters have been pictured in months after several images were shared from Abby and Joshua\u2019s 2021 ceremony, which was only made public months ago\n\n</p><div>\n<div class='\"mol-fe-related-replace' ccox data-track-module='\"related-replace\"'>\n<div class='\"related-replace-title' wocc>TRENDING\n<div class='\"related-replace-articles\"'>\n<div class='\"related-replace-image\"'><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/i.dailymail.co.uk%5C/1s%5C/2024%5C/10%5C/29%5C/01%5C/91396785-0-image-a-2_1730166656902.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"636\"' height='\"382\"'>\n<div class='\"related-replace-info\"'>\n<div class='\"related-replace-headline\"'>Tim Walz had secret fling with Chinese Communist\u2019s daughter\n<div class='\"related-replace-count-wrap\"'>\n<div class='\"related-replace-count' wocc>1.8k viewing now\n\n\n<div class='\"related-replace-image\"'><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/i.dailymail.co.uk%5C/1s%5C/2024%5C/11%5C/02%5C/19%5C/91595877-0-image-a-92_1730575222054.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"636\"' height='\"382\"'>\n<div class='\"related-replace-info\"'>\n<div class='\"related-replace-headline\"'>Inside story of Kate\u2019s rocky year in ROBERT HARDMAN\u2019s new biography\n<div class='\"related-replace-count-wrap\"'>\n<div class='\"related-replace-count' wocc>27k viewing now\n\n\n<div class='\"related-replace-image\"'><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/i.dailymail.co.uk%5C/1s%5C/2024%5C/11%5C/03%5C/21%5C/91624299-0-image-a-7_1730670259271.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"636\"' height='\"382\"'>\n<div class='\"related-replace-info\"'>\n<div class='\"related-replace-headline\"'>Disgusting three-word message is left at beloved cafe by vandals\n<div class='\"related-replace-count-wrap\"'>\n<div class='\"related-replace-count' wocc>234 viewing now\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>Currently, Bowling has the September selfie set as his profile photo on Facebook, where he has kept his followers up to date with the family\u2019s activities without sharing his wife and sister-in-law\u2019s likenesses.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>On October 2, the military vet-turned-nurse shared a photo of a pumpkin-shaped sourdough bread, seemingly fresh out of the oven.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>An accompanying hashtag mentioned the sisters, though the post for the most part fell under the radar.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>Other posts show Bowling preparing coffee at the family home, found in the small town of New Brighton, Minnesota.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>The twins were photographed leaving a Target in town this past April, in snaps\u00a0obtained by InTouch.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>In it, the two were seen holding a soda and a shopping bag from the big-box store, after getting their nails done earlier in the day.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>They both currently teach fourth and fifth grade at a local elementary school, where they share the same paycheck due to teaching the same classes.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>The two spoke on the subject in an interview with BBC.\n</p><div class='\"artSplitter' mol-img-group>\n<div class='\"mol-img\"'>\n<div class='\"image-wrap\"'>\n<p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' id='\"i-d7f717c81968b008\"' class='\"blkBorder' img-share src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/i.dailymail.co.uk%5C/1s%5C/2024%5C/10%5C/28%5C/16%5C/82986535-14010833-Here_is_Abby_pictured_left_as_she_stuns_in_a_white_floor_length_-a-8_1730131612597.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"Their' condition is described as a rare form of conjoined twinning where both patients share the same torso. in abby and brittany case they bloodstream all organs below waist width='\"634\"' height='\"889\"' data-gallery-handler-attached='\"true\"'>\n\n\n</p><p class='\"imageCaption\"'>Their condition is described as a rare form of conjoined twinning, where both patients share the same torso. In Abby and Brittany\u2019s case, they share the same bloodstream and all organs below the waist\n\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>\u2018Obviously, right away, we understand that we are going to get one salary because we\u2019re doing the job of one person,\u2019 Abby said back in 2013.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>\u2018As maybe experience comes in, we\u2019d 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.\u2019\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>Within five years, the two would reveal how they had been brought on by the school as full-time instructors and would continue to divide their compensation down the middle.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>Three years later,\u00a0Abby tied the knot with Bowling, who today lives with the twins full-time.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>Brittany, however, remains unwed.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>Called dicephalic parapagus, the condition the women have is described as a rare form of conjoined twinning, where both patients share the same torso.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>In Abby and Brittany\u2019s case, they share the same bloodstream and all organs below the waist.\u00a0Each twin also controls one arm and leg apiece and retains individual movement of their own head.\n</p><div class='\"artSplitter' mol-img-group>\n<div class='\"mol-img\"'>\n<div class='\"image-wrap\"'>\n<p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' id='\"i-cd8ec8157a1e4abd\"' class='\"blkBorder' img-share src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/i.dailymail.co.uk%5C/1s%5C/2024%5C/10%5C/28%5C/16%5C/91375333-14010833-image-a-13_1730131953781.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"Brittany,' meanwhile remains unwed showing how their condition can lead to some unusual living arrangements width='\"634\"' height='\"767\"' data-gallery-handler-attached='\"true\"'>\n\n\n</p><p class='\"imageCaption\"'>Brittany, meanwhile, remains unwed \u2013 showing how their condition can lead to some unusual living arrangements\n\n</p><div class='\"moduleFull' mol-video>\n<div class='\"item\"'>\n<div id='\"v-4494347548294690022\"' class='\"vjs-video-container' vjs-fixed vjs-span-two-col news>\n<div id='\"vjs_video_3\"' class='\"video-js' vjs-default-skin vjs-paused vjs-controls-enabled mol-empty-playlist mol-fe-animated-preview vjs-visually-ready vjs-user-inactive data-opts='\"{"linkBaseURL":"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-14010833\/Conjoined-twins-Abby-Brittany-Hensel-husband.html#v-4494347548294690022","isMobile":false,"original":false,"duration":15000,"src":"https:\/\/videos.dailymail.co.uk\/video\/mol\/2024\/04\/11\/4494347548294690022\/1024x576_MP4_4494347548294690022.mp4","source":"Mega","playerId":"default","title":"Conjoined' twin sisters spotted for first time since news of marriage abby and brittany hensel are the it emerged is now married.>\n<div class='\"vjs-title\"'>\n<div class='\"vjs-title-text\"'>\n<div>Conjoined twin sisters spotted for first time since news of marriage\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>Electing against a separation surgery due to the risk of both dying, the sisters have since lived as a pair.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>The year before they got their gig, their mother, Patti Hensel, appeared on their TLC docuseries to describe how the two once had had different dreams.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>\u2018I remember one wanted to be a pilot and one wanted to be a dentist and that was short-lived,\u2019 she said.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>\u2018I think it\u2019s going to go well for them [working as teachers] because they\u2019ve just always had a knack with kids and kids have always kind of been drawn to them.\u2019\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>The show aired from August to October 2012, following their graduation from college and quest for a first job.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>Six years before, the then teenage twins appeared in the documentary Joined For Life after first gaining fame on a 1996 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show when they were six years old.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>The two have since stayed out of the limelight for the most part save for the occasional TikTok and odd Facebook post, with Abby\u2019s marriage only coming to light this past March.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>Months later, in June, the twins posted an array of snapshots touting the occasion, which was attended by friends and family.\n</p><div class='\"artSplitter' mol-img-group>\n<div class='\"mol-img\"'>\n<div class='\"image-wrap\"'>\n<p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' id='\"i-ef5852fb178d62ba\"' class='\"blkBorder' img-share src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/i.dailymail.co.uk%5C/1s%5C/2024%5C/10%5C/28%5C/16%5C/83126999-14010833-Abby_and_her_sister_Brittany_one_of_only_a_few_sets_of_dicephalu-a-14_1730132126581.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"The' two first rose to fame on their eponymous tlc show after appearing oprah at just six years old. they have since for the most part stayed out of limelight sans occasional social media post width='\"634\"' height='\"581\"' data-gallery-handler-attached='\"true\"'>\n\n\n</p><p class='\"imageCaption\"'>The two first rose to fame on their eponymous TLC show, after appearing on Oprah at just six years old. They have since for the most part stayed out of the limelight, sans the occasional social media post\n\n</p><div class='\"artSplitter' mol-img-group>\n<div class='\"mol-img\"'>\n<div class='\"image-wrap\"'>\n<p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' id='\"i-7836af4073f8b244\"' class='\"blkBorder' img-share src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/i.dailymail.co.uk%5C/1s%5C/2024%5C/10%5C/28%5C/16%5C/85401291-14010833-Josh_was_recently_cleared_in_a_paternity_suit_that_was_filed_by_-a-15_1730132186371.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"Prior' to the september post bowling who now lives with both women had not included his wife or twin in any photos on social media width='\"634\"' height='\"777\"' data-gallery-handler-attached='\"true\"'>\n\n\n</p><p class='\"imageCaption\"'>Prior to the September post, Bowling \u2013 who now lives with both women \u2013 had not included his wife or twin in any photos on social media\n\n</p><div class='\"moduleFull' mol-video>\n<div class='\"item\"'>\n<div id='\"v-9218332417152075926\"' class='\"vjs-video-container' vjs-fixed vjs-span-two-col news>\n<div id='\"vjs_video_401\"' class='\"video-js' vjs-default-skin vjs-paused vjs-controls-enabled mol-empty-playlist vjs-visually-ready vjs-user-inactive data-opts='\"{"linkBaseURL":"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-14010833\/Conjoined-twins-Abby-Brittany-Hensel-husband.html#v-9218332417152075926","isMobile":false,"original":false,"duration":19000,"src":"https:\/\/videos.dailymail.co.uk\/video\/mol\/2024\/03\/28\/9218332417152075926\/1024x576_MP4_9218332417152075926.mp4","source":"Facebook","playerId":"default","title":"Conjoined' twins have first dance with husband at wedding hensel is married conjoined twin who rose to fame in reality show abby brittany secretly tied the knot an army veteran>\n<div class='\"vjs-title\"'>\n<div class='\"vjs-title-text\"'>\n<div>Conjoined twins have first dance with husband at wedding\n\n\n<div class='\"vjs-control-bar\"'>\n<div class='\"vjs-social-controls' vjs-control>\n<div class='\"vjs-social-share-control' vjs-control vjs-social-share-control-facebook-button tabindex='\"0\"' role='\"button\"' aria-live='\"polite\"'>\n<div class='\"vjs-social-icon' vjs-facebook-button-icon>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>The development reignited interest surrounding their lives, which remain extremely private.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>Prior to the September post, Bowling had not included his wife or twin in any photos on social media.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>Back in March, the pair broke their social media silence as news of Abby\u2019s wedding surfaced, hitting back at their \u2018haters.\u2019\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>\u2018The internet is extra LOUD today,\u2019 the twins wrote at the time after not sharing any images until late last year.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>We have always been around.\u2019\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>\u2018This is a message to all the haters out there.\n</p><p class='\"mol-para-with-font\"'>\u2018If you don\u2019t like what I do, but watch everything I\u2019m doing, you\u2019re still a fan.\u2019\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"</p><p>Can These Conjoined Twin Sisters Be Separated Safely? These conjoined twin sisters are heading on a journey that could potentially change their lives forever. Follow them and their family as they travel to a hospital in the Philippines to find out if they can be separated safely. attached at the forehead have undergone tests to [&hellip;]\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1352,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1351","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1351"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1351\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1353,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1351\/revisions\/1353"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1352"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></p></span></p></span></div></div></span></p></div></div></div></strong></p></li></ul></h3></div></h2></div></div></li></ul></div></h2></div></div></div></h2></div></div></strong></li></strong></li></strong></li></ul></div></h2></div></div></li></ul></div></h2></div></div></li></ul></figcaption></figure></p></strong></li></strong></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></section></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></h1></div></section></p></div></iframe></header>