51�Թ�

Between one and three in 100 pregnancies are thought to be affected by HG, which can cause extreme pregnancy sickness, threaten the life of the foetus and require intravenous fluids in hospital to prevent dehydration.

"The doctors told me it was due to malnutrition and exhaustion... They told me it was in the hands of God - the foetus could survive or die."

They found that, at every stage, male foetuses and adult sons were more affected by maternal smoking during pregnancy than females.

Parasitic twins form when one foetus partially develops while attached to the other.

Protesters outside abortion clinics, standing with signs - sometimes featuring graphic images of foetuses - have become a norm.