Most people are aware of the increased risk of multiple pregnancies involved with taking fertility medication or undergoing any procedure in which more than one embryo is transferred to the uterus or fallopian tubes for implantation in the uterine lining. It’s been well-documented in the media and through certain reality television shows. Multiple pregnancies carry certain risks such as potential for low birth weight and early labor. In some cases, the circulatory systems of the babies may connect and one will get too much blood with the other not receiving enough. Mothers of multiple babies may experience high blood pressure.
It’s always important to know what you’re up against before taking fertility drugs, or whenever you are told that you have twins, triplets, etc. But taking fertility drugs isn’t the only way to have twins or multiple pregnancies. It does occur naturally. Identical twins and fraternal twins differ in that identical twins come from the same egg, while fraternal twins come from separate eggs. In the former, the egg splits in two. In the latter, two eggs are produced and fertilized by sperm. A family history of twins may increase the likelihood of having twins, but not all parents who have twins have a family history.
Women who are over the age of 45 are at an increased chance of having twins. Younger mothers are less likely to have twins. This is due to the hormones and the release of eggs in older women. One study indicates that women who are overweight or tall are at an increased likelihood of having twins. What’s more, one’s race may have an effect on their likelihood of having twins. Hispanic and Asian women, it’s been reported in a study, have lower chances of having twins compared to white or black mothers.
If the doctor believes that the uterus is larger than a single pregnancy, or hears more than one heartbeat, he or she may perform an ultrasound to confirm multiple pregnancies. Women who are pregnant with twins will likely see their doctor more often and might gain more weight than they would with a single pregnancy.
If you’re aiming to get pregnant with twins but do not want to take fertility drugs, there isn’t a whole lot you can do. You’ll just have to hope you have a family history of multiple pregnancies and hope that eggs split or two eggs are fertilized during conception. Talk to your doctor for a more thorough explanation of twins and the chances of having twins.
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