Dozen digits! Missouri baby born with 12 fingers and toes

Missouri - New parents often jokingly count their baby's fingers and toes to make sure they're all there. But a mom was shocked when she discovered that her newborn came with a bonus.

The new mom suffered a serious shock when she held her baby for the first time (stock image).
The new mom suffered a serious shock when she held her baby for the first time (stock image).  © 123RF / Sergey Novikov

The Missouri woman's counting didn't stop at 10, as she found an extra finger and toe on each hand and foot. "It came quite the shock when I had found out my baby would have extra digits," she told ViralHog.

She has since gotten used to her son's unusual feature and even shared the story on the internet: "I decided to make a video and post it on TikTok just for the heck of it because I didn't have any followers."

That's definitely no longer the case, as users embraced the infant's difference and made him a social media star.

A pregnant woman's gender reveal party takes a raging turn
Baby A pregnant woman's gender reveal party takes a raging turn

His condition is called polydactyly. It's a congenital anomaly that causes the growth of additional digits. These can come in different shapes and sizes, from fully formed fingers to tiny skin flaps.

In most cases, polydactyly occurs on both sides.

Polydactyly can occur in both humans and animals

Polydactyly is one of the most common congenital malformations.
Polydactyly is one of the most common congenital malformations.  © 123rf/ Sopone Nawoot

It's actually a very common condition that shows up everywhere in the animal kingdom. If one parent is already affected by polydactyly, the probability that the offspring will also have it increases by fifty percent.

According to KidsHealth, polydactyly does not usually cause serious health problems, but it can be a part of wider genetic issues.

Its biggest effect is not physical, but psychological, as the condition brings unwanted attention and  stigma.

Cover photo: 123RF / Sergey Novikov

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