Baby girl with two heads born in Manila

A tricycle driver's wife gave birth to a two-headed baby girl at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila, Tuesday night.

Salvador Arganda, tricycle driver and resident of Mutinlupa City, said his wife, Chaterian, gave birth to "Baby Girl Arciaga" around 8:45 p.m. He said he last saw their baby around midnight at the hospital's neo-natal intensive care unit.

Arganda said they had suspicions that Chaterian was carrying two babies because both sides of their families have twin members.

He said their suspicion was erased after being told that there was only one baby inside Chaterian’s womb, based on her initial ultrasound.

On Saturday, Chaterian went back to the hospital for another ultrasound session and they were told that the baby would come out of her womb head first and that she would have to give birth by caesarean section.

Arganda said they were surprised when doctors told them that Chaterian gave birth to a baby with two heads.

The tricycle driver said he and his wife are praying for the baby to live.

"Sana mabuhay ang bata. Kakayanin naming mag-asawa iyon," he said when asked how will they take care of the child with his meager pay as a tricycle driver.

Dr. Ruben Flores, Fabella hospital's director, said the baby's case is called dicephaly monozygotic conjoined twins, which, he said, is a very rare occurrence.

Flores said they will use the hospital's resources to sustain the baby's life.

Dr. Melissa Juico of the hospital's newborn unit, meanwhile, said they will subject the baby to 2-D (two-dimensional) echocardiogram to determine if the child has only one heart.

Juico said the "twins" would not be able to live long enough with only one heart or if they are sharing vital organs.

A radio dzMM report said the baby was crying a lot and was very responsive.

The baby's grandmother, Celestina, told radio dzMM that their family would need financial assistance for the baby's medical expenses.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has pledged to help the baby's family and Bantay Bata 163, ABS-CBN Foundation's child welfare program has started extending assistance to the baby's family.

For those who would want to help Baby Girl Arciaga dial 163 or phone number 415-2272 local 5674.

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We all should help and pray that the baby girl will survive.