Twins

Double trouble, but twice the fun!

Twins - Twice the fun
Human twins are two individuals who have shared the same uterus during a single pregnancy and are generally,but not always, born in close succession. Because of the llimited amount of space in a woman's womb, twin pregnancies are not as likely to carry to full term as single births. Twin pregnancies usually last around 34 to 36 weeks. Since premature births can have health consequences for the babies, twin births are often handled with special precautions.

Types of twins

• Fraternal
• Identical & Mirror

There are five different types of twins that are most common in the world. The three most common types are all fraternal:

1. male-female twins are the most common result, at about 40% of all twins born;
2. female fraternal twins (sometimes called sororal twins);
3. male fraternal twins. The last two are identical:
4. female identical twins and
5. (least common) male identical twins.

Likelyness of twin pregnancy
Twin pregnancies are slightly more likely when the following factors are present in the woman:

• She is of African descent
• She is between the age of 30 and 40 years
• She is greater than average height and weight
• She has had several previous pregnancies.

IVF & twin pregnancy
Women who are receiving certain fertility treatments may have a greater chance of multiple births. This can vary depending on what types of fertility treatments are being used. With invitro fertilization (IVF), this is primarily due to the insertion of multiple embryos into the uterus. Some other treatments such as the drug Clomid can stimulate a woman to release multiple eggs, allowing the possibility of multiples. Many fertility treatments have no effect on the likelihood of multiple births.

A healthy twin pregnancy
Every pregnancy is different, but there are certain things to keep in mind in order to ensure a healthy pregnancy. (Read More)

Twin pregnancy complications
Women who are carrying twins are more susceptible to complications than single pregnancies and will be offered more tests during the prenatal period. They will also see their practitioner more frequently. (Read More)

Twin pregnancy delivery options
Every woman wonders about delivery options. This is also true for mothers carrying twins. A vaginal birth is possible even when multiples are involved. Whether a vaginal or cesarean delivery is performed will depend on a certain number of factors. (Read More)

Breastfeeding twins
Breastfeeding your twins is also possible and there are many helpful tips and suggestions available. Whether you choose to nurse both babies at the same time or individually is a matter of preference. (Read More)

Establishing routines
Establishing routines for one child can be challenging, let alone doing it for two. It is important to maintain a routine that will allow your household to run smoothly. Soon, your babies will become dependent on the schedule and will know what happens next. (Read More)



Comments: Twins

Comments 1 to 24 of about 55.
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brits2541 - 504 days ago.
I hope my twins wont be too much trouble!

sweetlady32 - 577 days ago.
Hi ladies, I was wondering for those who have twins how soon did you find out? For this is my 4th pregnancy and I'm in my 30's. I'm about 11 weeks and my belly is already out there. I was also wondering those who had twins could you feel your baby's body when you touch your belly? I'ts weird to me cuz the baby shouldn't be that high yet..any suggestions?? I go for my 1st prenantal appt. this tues. they should tell me something then.

csharp08 - 737 days ago.
I am 20 years old & married with a 2 year old daughter. About 13 weeks ago we found out we were expecting again. The doctor had told me that my uterus was very small so there was one baby. 10 weeks after we had our first u/s & we saw to beautiful faces! I am very excited but extremely excited about them! I see them again on June 1st to determine if they are identical/fraternal & their sexes =)) I am currently almost 16 weeks!

Monica81x - 737 days ago.
Hi im currently 21 weeks and 6days pregnant with Twins 1 boy and 1 girl for the last 3 to 4 weeks iv had severe pubic bone pain, its that bad to the point where i can hardly walk i cant lift anything at all and im barely able to do anything.. I have my first antinatal appointment this coming wednesday i wasnt able to get in as they have been booked out, and the doctors say theres nothing they can do to help.. I was wondering if any other mothers have experienced this at all and if theres any tips to help me im struggling and really dont know how much longer i can last in this pain =(

manda2301 - 831 days ago.
hi im 19 weeks pregnant with twins and finding it a little difficult im low on iron taking supplements but dizzy and sick a lot ... what really bothering me is i dont feel much movement and im nervous i have a child with spina bifida .... so a little scared .... can anyone give me some reassurance on the movement thing please

doubleblessings - 845 days ago.
Yay, just finding this part of the site on twins. The other message boards are so quiet. I am 22 weeks pregnant with boy/girl twins. I found out early--at 5 1/2 weeks. No major symptoms except extreme exhaustion and sore bb's. I never had any morning sickness, thank goodness. Now I'm feeling pretty good, just get out of breath already, haha. I've gained 11 pounds so far. Not sure if that's good or not--what is everyone else averaging?

mettz4me@gmail.com - 862 days ago.
Hi all, Well love reading about everyone stories on here, I'm fairly new to the website however I am pregnant again to another set of twins this time identical I am 17 weeks and 5 days so very excited. My first set of twins are boy and girl and they turn 6 next week and then I also have another girl she is 5 in June so I'm very excited as all my kids will be in school by the time I give birth to the twins.. but all the best to everyone expecting!! Anyone having twins this year 2011??

baby bop - 920 days ago.
I'm 33 weeks pregnant with my twins! One boy, one girl. So excited and nervous!

sammy29 - 938 days ago.
Hi , iam a mum to two lovely kids already and have just found out we are expecting twins...was a very scary thought at 1st ,but now im getting used to the idea! Iam now 19weeks still very nervous , but excited.. have been very sick with this pregnancy...which i have never been sick before. Think im finally getting over that at last :) added by sammy29

mumtomany - 1009 days ago.
Hello everyone, thought I'd already posted but its telling me i haven't so hear i go again :) I am a mum to 7 beautiful kids, and 10weeks with baby number 8 maybe 9! I went to the drs on Friday being just under 10weeks and when he felt my uterus he said it was bigger than my dates and already was out of the pelvis, he went on to say i was probably carring twins and I have an ultrasound next week to confirm. I know I am right about my dates and am excited bout the thought of twins, yes a little nervous. Just wondering is there any other common factors with an enlarged uterus?

Shaeluvsall7 - 1020 days ago.
I am the 32 year old mother of 5 children and just found out yesterday that I'm expecting TWINS!!! I was not planning to become pregnant at all at least not for another 2 years, but a large course of anti-biotics from a dental issue I had killed my birth control and here I am expecting TWINS! #6 & #7. The doctor seems to think they are di/di twins so far. I am a little worried since the heart rates were a little low at 110 and 114, but they said it could be just due to the size. I go back for another scan on the 27th and am hoping for good news while I try to figure out how to adjust my life from 5 to 7!!!! Has anyone else had lower heart rates and then they are fine the next scan?

luvin2monkeys - 1077 days ago.
Hello all, I'm currently 14.3wks preg. I've had two sono's done already and so far they've only seen one baby. When I went to a new Dr. on Monday he said my utuerous was quite big for 14wks and asked if the hospital had done a sono and if they'd seen two babies or jus one. I have two sons already (not twins but 16months apart) and had a miscarriage in 05, so this is my 4th preg. My family and my fiance's family have no twins in family. So my question is, do they always see that there are two babies during a sono or is it sometimes not seen right away? Thanks..

LorileeMotherOfMany - 1110 days ago.
I am a twin pregnant with twins! I think it is cool! Twin boys on the way! 29 weeks!! It is getting harder to move around! I thought it was going to be as easy as my other four pregnancys. Not easy at all! Very tiring! And I am very sore! I am also very excited!

myriahsun01 - 1158 days ago.
I just found out that I am 14.2 weeks with mono/mono twins. Has or is one else going through this type of pregnancy? I would love to talk to others going through this same situation I am.

2plustwins - 1159 days ago.
Hi ya all. Im 23 weeks pregnant with twins. My hubby and I had a feeling it was twins as this pregnancy was so different to my oher two. Was confirmed at 8 weeks, after the shock wore off we are now very excited. I had my 20wk appointment with my doc, he measured my fundal as I still dont have much of a belly to show for being 23 weeks pregnant with twins. I measured 30cm just wondering what everyone else measured. I know 30cm it good but I just hide it somewhere in my body, Im quite slender so I dont know where they are hiding. What was everyone elses fundal measurement at 20 weeks? Thanks

manda-may - 1191 days ago.
Although I have twin boys myself, a friend of mine has recently had twins (8 weeks old now) and already has a two year old. I only have my two boys so couldn't really give her any tips for managing a toddler while trying to care for her brand new little ones. Anyone out there have any tips I could share with her? She is spending a lot of time feeding them and toddler needs attention/entertaining too.

jmercer - 1200 days ago.
hi ive just found this site i am 14 weeks an 5 days paregnant with twins i knew right from the begining i already have 6 kids an this just felt soooo different felt sick sooner boobs so sore right from beginig an rather quick weight gain i was also having dreams i was having twins. my first midwife appointment i told her what i thought so she checked for heart beats only one heard then had a feel she said id expect you to be much bigger if it was twins lol, had my scan tuesday yup defo twins each have a placenta. it was very weird how i just knew but i am really scared an worried about my pregnancy an birth at the mo as i dont know much about twins even though ive had 6 other singles

michelle010203 - 1241 days ago.
Hey Ladies! I am just wondering what DPO you got your BFP!? I am just wondering because I took my first round of clomid this month and I got my BFP on 8 DPO and it was bright and fast when it showed!!!!? Thanks! :)

csimonds - 1291 days ago.
I just started my 10th week of pregnancy and I suspect I am carrying twins. (I haven't been able to go to the doctor at all yet, we're waiting for the insurance to come through) I'm starting to show already, and this is my first pregnancy (of course, I'm also very slender, I've been 105lbs for most of my adult life). So I just wanted to ask you other twin mommies, since my symptoms are so strange to me...I've been voraciously hungry for the last couple of weeks, I used to be able to go for 4-6 hours without eating and now I get shaky and hunger cramps if I go for 2-3 hours without eating...I'm EXTREMELY exhausted, I could hardly make myself get up and even take a shower until recently. No morning sickness to speak of (I have an incredibly strong stomach, have only thrown up like 4 times my whole life) but I've had headaches every day for the last three or four weeks. Hopefully the insurance will come through soon and I can get an u/s. One baby is a blessing of course, but I'd love to have twins. :)

nwilliams - 1299 days ago.
I'm 10 weeks pregnant with fraternal twins and I can't wait to finally be out of the 1st trimester. I've had 2 previous miscarriages, so these will be our first 2 babies. I'm not sure if this is normal, but my heartrate speeds up dramitcally after I eat, I get really hot and a little dizzy. Then it goes back to normal after 20min. Is this something I should worry about?

lilybear4 - 1301 days ago.
Just wanted to say Hi! I am 23 weeks 2 days PG with fraternal twins, one boy and one girl. They are both doing well and my pregnancy has been pretty normal thus far. I do have HBP that is being treated with medication, but so far it has stayed within normal range! Can't wait to get to know you all!

manda-may - 1302 days ago.
Melinda, if you mother is a fraternal twin (non-identical) then you may have a higher chance of having twins because your grandmother would have had to release two eggs at once to be fertilised to get non-identical twins, and this ability might have been passed down the maternal line to you. My greatgrandmother was a fraternal twin, then it skipped my grandmother and mother, and landed on me when I had fraternal twins... go figure. Also, if you are an older mum, it is more likely that you could release more than one egg at a time. Good luck.

lezley - 1302 days ago.
Last week we found out we are having twins! My husband & I are a little overwhelmed but very excited. I have a 2 yr old & a 8 month old at home now. So we will have 4 kids under the age of 3. I was also on birth control pills so I guess it was meant to happen:) Anyways I am concerned at the fact that my last daughter was a c-section & I'm curious at how this all plays out with twins? Do they put you to sleep?

MelindaS - 1302 days ago.
Hi all, Just wondering if anyone knows how likely i am in conceiving twins. My husbands father is a twin, and my mother is a twin. Are our chances higher than normal??

manda-may - 1336 days ago.
Good luck twin mums. I see that there are a few worries about delivering early. I delivered my twins at 34 weeks and they stayed in hospital for 4 1/2 weeks just learning to feed and fattening up. Ideally we all would love to keep our babies safe inside us for as long as possible, but sometimes the little munchkins have their own ideas. There are some good things about them being in a Special Care Baby unit though... if there are any things that go wrong, they are in the best place to be looked after... by the time they come home the nurses usually have them in a really good schedule you can stick to...and you get lots of advice and extra tlc before you take them home. We even went to the movies when they were still at the hospital lol! -although just the once! Good luck with your little bumps!

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