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The court (and the DNA test) has spoken. A set of triplets born 10 years ago in Cape Town, South Africa, was fathered by 2 different men. After a decade long legal battle and paternity tests, a cab driver finally found out that he fathered only 1 and not all the 3 babies of his then mistress. What started as legal battle for child support led to this intriguing revelation.

The article in the South African newspaper The Times, claims the triplets were conceived through superfecundation. Another possibility, however, is conception by superfetation.

They are defined from a previous post as:

1. Superfecundation - 2 or eggs are produced within 1 ovulation cycle are fertilized at different times (e.g. 2 or more sexual acts in close succession) to produce 2 or more babies.

2. Superfetation - 2 or more eggs are produced in 2 different ovulation cycles and are fertilized at different times (e.g. 2 or more sexual acts weeks apart) to produce 2 or more babies.

No details about the other Dad was given.

Multiple fatherhood is an uncommon occurrence and documented cases are rare.

In 1993 in the Netherlands, due to some mistakes in the lab during in vitro fertilization, two eggs from one mother were fertilized by sperms from two different men. The mistake was easily detectable because one sperm came from a man of African descent and the other (the real partner) was white. The mother gave birth to twins of different races.

The legalities of multiple fatherhood in case of multiple births can be complicated - even messy. Think about the consequences on child support, visiting rights, and inheritance.

Personally, I am happy that I am pretty sure my boys were fathered by one man, who is my husband. Makes thing simpler, don’t you think?

Tags: DNA tests, superfecundation, superfetation, triplets, two fathers