Kids Twin
Posted in Bed Comforter Sets on 02/18/2005 05:47 pm by admin
Got Twins? Myths, Misconceptions And Questions You Should Not Ask
It is impossible to go to the grocery store and not see yet another Hollywood “who’s who” sporting the newest, must have “baby bump.” Who knew keeping up with the Jones’—or Pitts would require half a dozen kids, including twins.
So to answer the question, “Why does it seem like twins are everywhere? Research indicates dramatic increases in twin and multiple births in the U.S. over the past two decades. For example, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, from 1980 to 1999, the twin birth rate increased by 49% and multiple birth rates rose by 423%. Additionally, research conducted in the Division of Reproductive Health at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) revealed that between the years 1999 and 2001, twin pregnancies increased by 29% and multiple pregnancies increased by 147%. Over 50% of births that result from artificial fertility interventions are twin or multiple births.
Regardless of a bunch of statistics–twins are fascinating and people are interested in them. However, as any parent of twins will tell you, including myself, there are certain questions that never fail to irritate a harried parent dealing with not one, but two fussy toddlers. These are the top five:
1. Question: “Are they twins?”
Answer: My boys are identical. What do you think?
2. Question: “Were you taking fertility treatments?”
Answer: This one more than any other never fails to astound me. The answer is no, I was not-but if I were, why would I share this most personal information with you?
3. Question: “Do twins ‘run’ on either side of the family?”
Answer: This one drives me crazy! Although fraternal twins do have a genetic component, it has to come from the mother or grandmother. This trait causes the expectant mom to hyperovulate. What would the expectant mother’s ovulation cycle have to do with her spouses’ Uncle Bob? And Identical twins are not genetic.
4. Question: “Are they identical or fraternal?”
Answer: I have a friend who has boy and girl twins and constantly gets asked if they are identical. Hello! I don’t think so.
5. Question: ”Do you always dress them alike?”
Answer: I have been asked this question when my boys were dressed completely different!
Here are some basics on twins:
What’s the difference?
- Fraternal or Dizygotic Twins
Fraternal twins are created from two different eggs and are fertilized by two separate sperm. You will also hear them referred to as dizygotic twins. Dizygotic, or fraternal twins, have DNA that would be shared by any siblings. In other words, they are no more alike than any two siblings; they just happen to share the womb. They can be in any combination of two girls, two boys-and most frequently, at a whopping 40%, a boy and a girl. Fraternal twins are in separate sacs, have two placentas or two placentas which are fused together. Fraternal twins can still look very similar. Perfect examples of look-a-like fraternal twins are Mary-Kate and Ashley Olson who shared a roll on the syndicated television program Full House.
- Identical or Monozygotic Twins
The other types of twins are monozygotic twins, which are more commonly known as identical. Monozygotic or Identical Twins occur when a single egg is fertilized to form one zygote, which then divides into two separate embryos. In spite of common beliefs, identical twins’ traits and physical appearances are not exactly the same; although, they have nearly identical DNA. Although identical twins can look somewhat different, they will always be the same sex and will usually have the same hair and eye color. Depending on the day they split, they may share a placenta, have two separate placentas, or two fused into one. Likewise, they may have separate bags of amniotic fluid or they may be mono-amniotic (share one bag)-as my boys did.
Have you ever hoped for twins or wondered what your chances for conceiving twins are?
Facts about Fraternal Twins:
- Before age 30 your chances for fraternal twins are around 3%
- Between the age of 30 – 34, your chances of fraternal twins increase to around 4%
- By the time you reach the age of 35, your odds boost to 5%
- Over the age of 45, your chances increase to 6%
- After the age of 50, the rate of fraternal twins is 11%
- Your odds will also increase for fraternal twins if you have had previous pregnancies (4 or more)
- If you have already had fraternal twins, some studies suggest your chances of having fraternal twins again, increase by up to 4 times
- Obesity, while it can also suppress ovulation, may also cause a woman to hyperovulate, thereby increasing her chance of fraternal twins.
- Studies suggest that women who are tall or large boned may be more likely to hyperovulate-and therefore have a higher chance of fraternal twins.
Facts about Identical Twins:
- None of the aforementioned facts contribute to identical twins
- Identical twins occur less than 1 in 285 births
- Identical twinning occurs when one fertilized egg splits in two
- If the split occurs in the first 1 -3 days following fertilization, before the yolk sac is formed, the babies will have their own placenta and amniotic sac
- If the split occurs between day 4 – 9, the babies will have their own amniotic sac but will share a placenta
- If the split occurs after day 9, twins grow together in a single sac and share a placenta. These types of twins are called monoamniotic twins and are rare-occurring in 0.1% of identical twins.
- If the split doesn’t occur until after day 13, the result is conjoined twins, which means that the babies will be connected and may share vital organs. Depending on the severity, they may or may not be safely separated.
- Chances of conjoined twins are 1 in 80,000
- Mirror image twins are identical twins who are just that-mirror images. For example, if one is left handed-the other will be right handed. If one has a mole on the left side of his or her face, the other will have the same on the right side. This type of twinning occurs in ¼ of identical twins who split at day 7 or after.
- Identical twinning is not believed to be genetic and in spite of many studies, remains a medical anomaly.
About the Author
Kelliann is a freelance writer who specializes in business, academic, technical, and creative writing. After dedicating several years to teaching, Kelliann decided to pursue freelance writing full-time.
Kelliann is certified at the expert level in personal training and sports nutrition, as such, she has writing expertise in the areas of health, fitness, and nutrition. Kelliann also has intimate knowledge of high-risk pregnancy, twin and multiple birth, and maternal health. She is the creator and editor of both www.twinpregnancyinfo.com and www.fitwithtwins.com. Contact Kelliann at kelliann@twinpregnancyinfo.com
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