My research on the likelihood of having twins/triplets/etc. is inconclusive, at best, with contradictory viewpoints abounding. Any help from M.D.s, geneticists, or whoever has the definitive dope would be appreciated. Here’s the situation:
My SO (the father of my future children) was a twin, although his identical twin brother died at birth. His paternal grandmother is also an identical twin. My own family includes my great-aunt and great-uncle, fraternal twins.
My questions are as follow:
a) Is there really a genetic and/or hereditary trend for twin/multiple births?
b) If so, would this be carried mostly through the maternal side or the paternal side? Or would it be equal?
c) Would there be any difference in the incidence of fraternal vs. identical twins occuring?
If I am basing my questions on some old folk tale that has no scientific merit, I apoligize for my naivete… but I’d like to have some idea what we’re in for before we reproduce.
I’ve just recently encountered a woman who is donating her eggs to infertile couples. Although she made a big deal out of her selfless gift, and the discomforts she would have to endure to do this kind and generous thing, she also happened to mention that she would like to have a multiple birth. She says that after the harvesting is done, there is still a good chance that there will be many eggs unharvested. She hopes to concieve the night of the harvesting.
It seemed to be a radical plan to try and have twins (or more), but I thought I’d throw it out there and see what others on this site have to say.
I have a set of twins, fraternal girls that don’t even look like sisters. The year my twins were born, a second or third cousin on my mother’s side, had fraternal triplets. My mother-in-law is a fraternal twin, and hubby mistakenly figured it was his “fault” we had twins, until I pointed out that fraternal twins are the result of a woman releasing two eggs, which of course, he had nothing to do with.
Becoming pregnant with fraternal twins is hereditary, from the maternal side only. Once a woman has a set of twins, her chances of having a second set increase. I forget the exact figures on the chances of having one set of fraternal twins, but I believe the second time around is like one in seven. And all my daughters have an increased chance of having twins…the “skipping generation” thing is just an old wives’ tale.
Last I heard, medical science hadn’t determined that having identical twins is hereditary, but it’s been some time since I’ve paid much attention. I’m sure with all the advances in genetics, they’ve come up with some clues.
My twins were both well above the average birthweight, and I had them naturally…but only because I had an idiot doctor who didn’t know I was having twins until after the first one was born. That was sixteen years ago. Now ultrasound is pretty much routine, and I’m sure very few women have “surprise” twins these days. I’m glad my doctor was an idiot, though, because I’m sure they would’ve cut me open far before my due-date. Even still, I had one twin with medical problems for the first few months, and as we’ve all seen in reports of quads, quints and more, these low-weight, early babies have some serious medical issues that sometimes affect them for the rest of their lives.
Humans were designed to give birth and care for one, occasionally two, and very rarely three babies at one time. I find it selfish and almost criminal when couples purposely bring more than one baby at a time into this world, and subject those children to years of suffering health. They all look really cute on the covers of women’s magazines, but sheesh…think of what you’re doing to them.
