Unexpected vaginal bleeding could indicate the beginning of a new life (or lives) or it could mean that you’re not pregnant and you’ve just started your period.

If it’s the former, then you’ve just had some implantation bleeding, which is perfectly normal. But women can sometimes confuse heavy implantation bleeding with twins with the onset of their period and even with a miscarriage.

While the first two normally aren’t dangerous, the third one is a serious and life-threatening medical emergency that requires intervention. To help you figure out which of the three is causing your spotting, we’ll take a look at implantation bleeding, why it happens, when it’s normal, and what to look out for.

What is Heavy Implantation Bleeding?

About 6 to 12 days after the sperm joins the egg, the embryo attaches itself to the uterus. As it implants itself into the uterine lining, its burrowing movements can break down blood vessels. The light bleeding or spotting that results is what we call “implantation bleeding.”

This type of vaginal bleeding is completely normal and does not need to be treated. It doesn’t happen during every pregnancy but is quite common. According to the American Pregnancy Association, about a third of all pregnant moms will experience some implantation bleeding.

Women who are pregnant for the first time are more likely to experience implantation bleeding or will bleed a bit more than women who have already been pregnant. This is because their uterine walls are not used to the embryo attachment.

Implantation bleeding usually happens before a woman even discovers that she is pregnant, which is why it’s often thought to be menstrual bleeding. The timing typically coincides with the expected start of a woman’s next period, making things even more confusing.

These signs usually accompany implantation bleeding:

• Mild cramping
• Low back pain
• Breast tenderness
• Moodiness
• Nausea
• Headaches

To make things even more puzzling, these are all also symptoms of ovulation. So if you experience any of these with spotting, you could easily mistake it for your period.

Implantation Bleeding vs. Normal Period

Whether you’re trying to get pregnant or don’t want to get pregnant, finding blood in your underwear can bring on some intense emotions. It’s easy to confuse implantation bleeding with the onset of your period, not to mention other types of vaginal bleeding.

Instead of panicking over some blood, you should learn how to tell when it’s implantation bleeding and when it’s your period.

Here are some of the main differences between implantation bleeding and menstrual bleeding:

• Colour — Most women are well acquainted with the colors of their menstrual blood, from the dark red of the first few days to the brighter reds at the middle and end of their period. Meanwhile, implantation bleeding can be as light as a pinkish red or as dark as a deep brown.

• Thickness and clotting — While menstrual blood can be quite viscous and include a good amount of clots, implantation bleeding does not include any clots at all.

• Amount — Menstrual blood is usually enough to fill tampons and pads, especially during the second or third days of a period. With implantation bleeding, there’s not actually much blood. The flow is very light compared with that of period blood and is hardly enough to fill a panty liner.

What Does Implantation Bleeding Look Like

Implantation bleeding is actually more like spotting than actual bleeding. It can also be intermittent instead of a continuous flow like a period. But because implantation bleeding usually begins near the expected start of a woman’s period, it’s often mistaken as an early flow.

• Duration — Regular menstrual periods typically last three to seven days. Women who are on birth control normally have shorter periods while those who aren’t on birth control have longer periods. Implantation bleeding can last anywhere from just a couple of hours to a couple of days.

If you’re still unsure if the bleeding is from implantation or just an early period, it may be time to take a pregnancy test. To get accurate results, it’s best to wait at least three days or even a week after the onset of the bleeding before you get tested.

Implantation bleeding, like menstrual bleeding, will go away on its own without you having to do anything about it. Unfortunately, there may be another reason behind the bleeding or spotting: a miscarriage.

Implantation Bleeding vs. Miscarriage

Implantation bleeding, especially if it’s the heavy kind, can sometimes be confused with bleeding from a miscarriage.

Most miscarriages take place within the first trimester of pregnancy. Usually, bleeding from a miscarriage begins as spotting and then becomes heavier. The blood is usually dark red with visible clots.

These signs and symptoms may accompany bleeding from a miscarriage:

• Pelvic and abdominal cramps
• Pain in the lower abdomen
• Passing tissue along with the blood
• Symptoms of pregnancy, such as nausea and breast tenderness, cease

Heavy Implantation Bleeding with Twins: Normal or Not?

Implantation bleeding is frequently associated with conceiving twins. There are some who theorize that implantation bleeding is more common during a twin pregnancy than in a singleton pregnancy. This has not been backed by scientific studies.

While some implantation bleeding is normal at the beginning of a twin pregnancy, be wary of mistaking a miscarriage with heavy implantation bleeding. Pregnancy loss is more common in moms carrying twins or multiples, so you should always be on the lookout for any signs or symptoms of an impending miscarriage.

If heavy bleeding is accompanied by cramping and the passing of tissue, it’s best to call your doctor or head to the hospital immediately.

More Resources for Your Twin Pregnancy 

Whether or not you are trying to get pregnant, knowing the signs of implantation bleeding can help you and your doctor figure out what you’re dealing with. Implantation bleeding in itself shouldn’t be cause for concern, but there are other reasons behind vaginal bleeding, including miscarriage, an ectopic pregnancy, cysts, and vaginal infections.

If you’re experiencing heavy implantation bleeding with twins, it’s best to let your doctor know right away. For more about symptoms to watch out for during pregnancy, check out this post. Good luck!

When older women get pregnant, they are most likely to conceive twins. The correlation of advanced maternal age and twins have something to do with a woman’s hormone shift.

Although some may feel that getting pregnant later can be a potential issue, some would disagree and feel quite the opposite. To really know for sure if pregnancy risks are higher or not, having a balanced perspective on this matter is significant.

When is maternal age considered advanced?

A woman’s maternal age is considered advanced if she is past the age of 35. As women age, either it becomes more difficult to get pregnant or it may take a longer time to get pregnant. Also, there are known complications in pregnancy at this time like diabetes, miscarriages, and hypertension.

Medical practitioners rely on a woman’s age (35 or older) as one of the key factors that determine whether a woman would need advanced medical care when she gets pregnant. Although many women above 35 do not experience complications in their pregnancy, some obstetricians will still maintain on alert throughout the nine-month period.

How is a woman’s advanced maternal age (AMA) related to Geriatric Pregnancy?

Geriatric pregnancy is a medical term given to women who have children after the age of 35. This term was used in the past but is rarely used presently. Today, when a woman who is older than 35 gets pregnant, doctors describe this as “advanced maternal age” (AMA).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of first birth rates for women aged 35-39 rose significantly between 2000 to 2012. Further, women who had their first births between the age of 40-44 showed a steady increase as early as the early 80’s. This data shows that women who get pregnant at a later age are becoming more common.

What are the risks of advanced maternal age and twins?

There are several adverse pregnancy outcomes with AMA categorizing it as a “high risk” pregnancy. These risks include premature birth, stillbirth, low birth weight in the baby, labor complications, c-section, chromosomal defects in the baby, high blood pressure in the mother which leads to preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes.

Another pregnancy risk is Down Syndrome, a chromosomal defect that is associated with aging eggs. One in 100 women who are 40 years of age is at risk of having a child or children with Down Syndrome. After the age of 40, this risk greatly increases.

What are the outcomes of twins during advanced maternal age?

According to Professor Roy Homburg of the division of reproductive medicine at the Vrije University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, older women have higher levels of FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) which prompts the likelihood of fraternal twins.

In a study done by Prof. Homburg and his team, they measured the women’s hormones and checked the images of the women’s reproductive system via ultrasound. They compared women who are in their 20’s and 30’s and found out that older women have higher levels of FSH and are more likely to release more than one egg cell every menstrual cycle – a contributory factor to conceiving twins.

The National Center of Biotechnology Information did a study on the role of maternal age in twin pregnancy outcomes (preterm birth, fetal death, and neonatal death in a twin pregnancy). The research found did not find AMA to as an accompanying risk factor for infant death and fetal death.

Further, the preterm birth risk is low for women under 40. With this, it is reasonable to advise women who are in their 30s that their age isn’t a major additional risk factor when it comes to adverse obstetric outcomes when they are pregnant with twins.

Another study done by Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) reports that with most twin pregnancies, AMA is not a major risk factor even if the twin pregnancy itself carries a certain degree of risk.

In relation to this, the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology analyzed and studied the rates preterm birth, infant death, and fetal death greater than 950,000 twin births in the US from the years 2007 to 2013.

Among all the age groups studied, mothers who were young (between 15-17 years old) had the highest risk for all of the mentioned adverse pregnancy outcomes. As their ages increased, the risk significantly declined until they were of advanced maternal age.

In older women, infant and fetal death rates were low and the risk of preterm birth significantly dropped for mothers aged 35 to 39. According to senior author and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at CUMC, Dr. Alexander Friedman, it is unclear why younger women are more prone to adverse pregnancy outcomes.

One reason may be because twins may share one placenta in younger mothers, or factors like social or socioeconomic concerns may also be responsible. The research also states that women who are over the age of 35 are more likely to conceive twins, so understanding the age-associated risk will be beneficial to mothers and their health care providers.

What are the benefits of pregnancy during AMA?

On a positive note, there are certain benefits to getting pregnant later in life. One is that women who wait to have children have longevity in life. The journal “Menopause” did a study and found that women who had their last child after they were 33 years old have the tendency to live to 95.

Getting pregnant and raising children at a later age also protects mothers from cognitive decline. The University of Southern California found that women who had a baby after age 35 have better brain power after going through menopause.

Third, since women at this age are more stable and have increased in their earning potential, the children grow up having all of their needs supported. Since older parents are less stressed about job security or income, they are more patient and spend more time with their children.

The information presented regarding advanced maternal age and twins is encouraging. Not only does the data show that having twins at a later time in life possible, but it also makes us understand that there are a number of benefits when giving birth to twins in AMA

Did you know that going into preterm labor doesn’t immediately mean that you’ll be having a preterm baby? Nonetheless, with a twin or multiple pregnancy, it’s important that you know when you’re experiencing fake labor pains and when you’re in actual preterm labor.

Read on for the signs of preterm labor with twins and what to do to prevent going into premature labor.

Twins and preterm labor

All moms want their pregnancy to proceed without a hitch — that means carrying their babies to full term and birthing healthy babies with no complications and even delivered naturally. For singleton pregnancies, full term means about 40 weeks, with most single babies being born at 39 weeks.

With twins, the average length of pregnancy is 35 weeks, with most twins being born before 37 weeks to avoid a difficult birth.

Preterm labor is defined as labor that happens before the 37th week of pregnancy. True preterm labor occurs when there are real contractions (i.e. not Braxton Hicks) and when the cervix starts to thin out or dilate.

Contractions alone don’t indicate that you’re in preterm labor. First, most pregnant moms experience painless contractions (aka Braxton Hicks) as they near their due date and the uterus starts “practicing” for labor. Second, it’s not actual labor unless there are any changes to the cervix, which only a doctor can diagnose.

This is why it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the signs of preterm labor and to get yourself to a hospital if you feel that you’re experiencing actual labor pains.

Though preterm labor is usually spontaneous, it can also be induced when necessary. If you have preeclampsia, for example, your doctor will induce your labor to prevent the condition from progressing and to avoid life-threatening complications.

Maybe you haven’t given it much thought until now, but preterm labor isn’t at all uncommon. It happens in about one out of every 10 births and raises babies’ risk of health and development problems. Recognizing when something feels “off” may help you save your children’s lives.

What causes preterm labor when you are expecting twins?

Doctors still aren’t sure what causes premature labor. But there are some conditions and lifestyle choices that can up your risk of giving birth early. These include:

• Being 35 years old or older
• Being pregnant with twins or multiples (fraternal twins and identical twins)
• Having an older child (or children) who were born prematurely
• Having a condition/s that affects your uterus or cervix, or having had surgery on your reproductive organs
• Having certain pregnancy complications like spotting
• Having a short cervix
• Being underweight or overweight before you became pregnant
• Conceiving again less than six months after the birth of your last child
• Having certain health issues like diabetes, kidney disease, and high blood pressure
• Contracting an illness or infection while pregnant
• Smoking, drinking, and doing drugs
• Not getting sufficient prenatal care
• Being under a lot of stress

As mentioned, no one really knows why some moms go into early labor. A pregnant woman who can’t tick any of the boxes above can still have preterm labor — it’s a mystery. That’s why, again, you need to know what to look for and what to do in case you go into premature labor.

Signs of preterm labor with twins

Babies need to stay in the uterus as long as possible so they have sufficient time to grow and develop. According to the March of Dimes, if you experience any of these before 37 weeks, you may be in preterm labor:

• Cramps that make your abdomen tighten like a fist (especially if you’re feeling more than four contractions an hour)
• Vaginal discharge that increases in volume or becomes watery, bloody, or mucus-like
• Increased vaginal or pelvic pressure, like your babies are pushing down
• Spotting or bleeding
• Low back discomfort that’s not eased by a change in position or movement
• Reduced movement by your babies
• Fluid leakage (your water may have broken)

If you’re unsure if it’s false labor pains or real labor, don’t just blow it off and assume you’ll feel better after a nap. Call your doctor.

Twin Pregnancy: Risks of preterm labor 

Babies who are born prematurely usually weigh less than 5 pounds. Being this small can increase their chances of developing health problems, some of which have lasting effects. For babies, the risks of preterm labor include:

• Anemia
• Jaundice
• Breathing difficulties
• Hearing problems or loss
• Vision problems or loss
• Underdeveloped organs
• Cerebral palsy
• Intellectual disabilities
• Behavioural disabilities
• Learning disabilities

That may sound terrifying but, thankfully, not all babies born prematurely go on to have development issues. And if it looks like you won’t make it to 34 weeks, your doctor will give you corticosteroid injections to help with the development of your babies’ lungs and give them a better chance of being born healthy.

In addition, going into preterm labor doesn’t always mean that your babies will be born premature. Most women who are treated in the emergency room for premature labor end up delivering their babies closer to full term. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, only about 10% of women in preterm labor actually give birth within the next week.

How to prevent preterm labor in a multiple pregnancy

There’s really not much you can do to keep from going into preterm labor, as doctors aren’t even sure yet what causes it. Still, taking better care of yourself should help improve your chances of a healthy pregnancy. Here are some steps you can take to lower the odds of premature labor.

• Stay within a healthy weight range
• Get any existing medical conditions under control
• Stop drinking and smoking
• Follow your doctor’s recommendations about diet and exercise
• Get enough sleep and rest
• Reduce stress by taking up yoga or meditation

If you notice signs of preterm labor with twins, you should contact your doctor or quickly get yourself to the hospital and have yourself examined. Once it has started, you’ll likely be given medication to relax your uterine muscles.

If preterm labor stops naturally or is stopped by the medication, your doctor may decide to monitor you for a day or two before sending you home.

Where will they sleep? It’s one of the most important questions parents of twins need to answer before they bring their babies home. It’s also quite a thorny subject, given how not all newborn twins sleeping arrangements are recommended by doctors.

According to the American Academy of Paediatrics, about 3,500 babies die of sleep-related causes every year in the US. These sleep-related deaths include those caused by Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), accidental strangulation, and accidental suffocation.

Cases of sleep-related infant deaths went down following the government’s safe sleep campaign in the 1990s, but they have mostly stayed the same in recent years.

If you’re expecting twins, you may be wondering which sleeping arrangement is best for your babies. Read on to learn about the different sleeping arrangements for twins and which ones are considered safe.

Things to consider about twins sleeping together

First off, your twins’ sleeping arrangements will be largely determined by the restrictions posed by your home and your childcare situation.

If there’s not enough space in the nursery for two cribs, for instance, then you may have to go for a co-bedding arrangement. If you decide to exclusively breastfeed your babies, then you may find co-sleeping in twin bassinets to be the best option.

A couple of things you need to think about are:

1. Space

If there isn’t enough space in your bedroom or in the nursery for separate cribs, keeping your babies in the same crib can be an option. You may also consider co-sleeping or buying bassinets instead of cribs.

2. Sleep habits

Many parents opt to keep their newborn twins in the same crib at least until they’re about 6 months old. Unfortunately, this only works for babies who go to sleep and wake up at the same time. If your babies have different sleep patterns, they may disrupt each other’s sleep — as well as yours. Also sleep training your twins can be very good for having proper sleeping habits.

3. Feeding

If you breastfeed your twins, having them in bed with you or in a co-sleeper beside your bed may be easiest, especially with nighttime feeds. If you decide to bottle feed, separate cribs are okay. You and your partner can schedule feeding duties and take turns getting up in the middle of the night to give the babies their bottles.

Newborn twins sleeping arrangements

Each of these sleeping options has its own pros and cons. Some are recommended by pediatricians while some are not.

1. One crib

Some parents have their twins share a crib when they bring them home for the first time. Co-bedding is actually quite helpful during these first few weeks because it helps your newborns regulate their sleep cycles. It’s also soothing for the twins who were, after all, “wombmates” for months and are used to being so close to each other.

In the UK, the National Health Service says this sleeping arrangement for twins is perfectly safe. But when they are older and start wiggling about, it’s time to move them to separate cots so they don’t roll onto and wake up each other.

2. Twin cribs and twin baby beds

If you feel a bit iffy about putting your babies in the same crib, then it’s two cribs for you. Having space for two separate cribs also gives you the option of buying cots that can be converted into toddler beds and then regular beds.

3. Family bed

Co-sleeping proponents maintain that many cultures have been sleeping family style for centuries and that many still do. It is said to have various benefits, including easier nighttime feedings for breastfeeding moms, better self-esteem and a sense of security for the children, and more sleep for everyone in the family.

However, some doctors say that co-sleeping can increase the risk of SIDS and creates future sleep problems for children. And with newborn twins, who are already at higher risk for SIDS than singletons, there’s concern that co-sleeping would only increase the likelihood of sleep-related accidents or even death.

If you’re going to do this, you have to take every precaution, including switching to a king-sized bed.

4. Twin bassinets

If you’d rather not keep your twins in one crib but space is an issue, you may go with having two bassinets. These have the added benefits of being portable, allowing you to move your twins from room to room with ease.

You’ll also be able to keep your newborn twins in your bedroom (as experts recommend) without having to co-sleep (if you’re not comfortable with it) or switching to a bigger bed.

What is the safest sleeping arrangement for newborn twins?

Because it has been found to reduce the risk of crib death, both the UK’s National Health Service and the American Academy of Paediatrics in the US recommend keeping newborn twins in the same room as the parents at least for the first six months.

In 2009, the Royal College of Midwives recommended having twins sleep in the parents’ room for the first six months of life and suggested co-bedding as a way to make this possible.

Meanwhile, a study from Durham University found that co-bedding twins wasn’t any more dangerous than having twin babies under 3 months old sleep in separate cots. This study found that co-bedded twins didn’t wake up more frequently during the night, nor did they exhibit increased body temperature.

Co-bedding may also be better for twins in terms of health. Doctors have long noted that when placed together in an incubator in the hospital, newborn twins grow faster and are better able to regulate their breathing. They have also observed that the weaker twin seems to benefit from sleeping beside the stronger twin.

However, some doctors advise against co-bedding, saying that it increases the risk of accidental suffocation, overheating, and crib death. If you do choose to have your twins share a crib, know that you can only do so in the early months when they’re still tightly swaddled and are unable to move around much.

When they start wiggling and risk rolling onto or bumping each other, you’ll have to move them into separate cribs.

When it comes to newborn twins sleeping arrangements, the choice is ultimately yours. But please do make sure that you have thoroughly researched all your options, including the risks involved. Good luck!

Having a miscarriage at any point during pregnancy is devastating, but don’t lose hope. Many women go on to have healthy babies, some even conceiving twins and multiples, after losing a pregnancy. So, what are the chances of twins after miscarriage?

Let’s dig into whether or not a miscarriage improves the odds of having twins and if there’s anything you can do to increase your fertility after suffering a pregnancy loss. 

Conceiving After Miscarriage

Anyone who has had a miscarriage will tell you that it’s incredibly heartbreaking and unexpectedly isolating. Unfortunately, it’s also very common. More than one in every five pregnancies ends in miscarriage, with most miscarriages occurring in the first trimester of pregnancy.

The likelihood of losing a pregnancy goes up as you age. For mums under 35, the odds of miscarrying is about 15%. Between the ages of 35 and 45, it increases to 20-35%. And for women over 45, it can get as high as 50%.

The good news is that it’s perfectly safe to try to conceive again after a miscarriage. And contrary to what women were once told, new research says that there’s no need to wait six or so months before attempting to get pregnant again.

According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, women who conceive within six months after a miscarriage actually have the best chances of having healthy pregnancies with the lowest complication rates.

So as long as you didn’t undergo any traumatic procedure that requires a lengthy healing period or a course of drugs, it should be okay to go ahead and try for another pregnancy again.

Just make sure that you’ve been to see your doctor for your follow up appointment and that he or she has determined that it’s safe for you to proceed.

Most importantly, make sure you’re emotionally prepared to attempt for a second time. Don’t start trying until you’re sure you’re ready for whatever comes next, whether it’s another loss or a baby. It’s not a good idea to try to conceive just to try and compensate for the pregnancy that was lost.

Are You More Likely To Conceive After a Miscarriage?

Suffering a miscarriage may feel like the death of your dreams and hopes for a family, but take heart — experts say that even if you’ve had a miscarriage, you still have the same chance at having a healthy and successful pregnancy as someone who hasn’t lost a pregnancy.

You’ve already created an embryo, which means that you should be able to create another one and hopefully carry it to term.

You may even be able to carry two to term. Though this has yet to be backed by scientific studies, there are some who believe that fertility may be improved after a miscarriage and that during this short period, the odds of conceiving twins increases significantly.

According to the theory, the four to six week period after a miscarriage is prime time for conceiving twins or multiples because the mum is going through a hyper ovulation phase.

If you go through the numerous pregnancy forums on the internet, you’ll find stories from mums who have experienced this phenomenon.

If you’ve recently had a miscarriage (we’re so sorry) and are wondering if this could happen to you, make sure your doctor has evaluated you and that you’re both physically and emotionally ready to try again.

How to Increase Your Chances of Conceiving Twins After Miscarriage

Apart from the hyperovulation theory mentioned, there are various factors that influence a couple’s chances of having twins. First, there’s genetics. Fraternal twins run in families, though identical twins don’t.

There’s also age. Women in their mid-30s and older have a greater chance of having twins than younger women. This is based on the fact that older women produce more of the hormones that stimulate ovulation and lead to the release of eggs every month.

Another factor is heritage. For example, mums of African American and Central African origin have higher chances of conceiving twins. Latin American and South East Asian mums have the lowest chances.

Fertility treatments are also a big factor. Women who are undergoing fertility treatments are known to have a higher chance of having twins and multiples because these treatments (1) stimulate the ovaries into releasing more eggs or (2) involve transferring two or more embryos into the womb.

Now that you’ve considered these factors, there are also some things you can do to help improve your chances of having twins after a miscarriage. These include:

• Avoid stress
• Stop smoking, drinking, and other unhealthy habits
• Reduce your consumption of caffeine
• Eat a balanced diet

• Consult a doctor to see if you need to start fertility treatments
• See a therapist to help you process the miscarriage

How to Reduce Your Risk of Another Miscarriage

First of all, keep in mind that there’s a very small chance of having another miscarriage. Less than 5% of mums have two consecutive miscarriages and only about 1% of mums lose more than two pregnancies in a row.

There’s a fairly good chance that your next pregnancy will proceed beautifully. Remember: you don’t have to severely alter your life so that you will conceive again. There’s no need to put yourself on bed rest or get on a super strict diet.

But there are some basic things that will help you stay healthy and reduce the risk of a repeated miscarriage:

• Don’t rush into another pregnancy if you’re not ready. Make sure you’re in the right state of mind and are physically okay before trying to conceive again.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Be physically active and try to stay within a healthy weight range.
• Get enough sleep and learn to manage stress.

• If you have existing conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes, make sure your doctor is monitoring them.

To Recap, What are the Chances Of Twins After Miscarriage

It’s normal to be afraid of having another miscarriage, but keep in mind that you are not flawed and your body is not broken.

Remember that each pregnancy is different and chances are you’ll be able to have a healthy pregnancy after a miscarriage. If you want to learn more about the chances of twins after miscarriage, message us or head to our forums section.

Even with today’s modern technology, there are times when we are caught surprisingly off-guard just like in instances of having surprise twins at birth. Although this rarely happens, such a hiccup may occur every now and then. This, therefore, is what this article aims to explain.

How do unexpected twins at birth happen?

Having unexpected twins at birth happens can be explained by what is described as a hidden twin. This happens when a twin pregnancy is undiscovered early on during an ultrasound examination, as explained by Dr. Idries Rahman , an OB-GYN from Twin Doctors TV.

The hidden twin on ultrasound commonly occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy. Because the embryo is smaller, it is difficult to both see the baby and hear his heartbeat. Although a hidden twin will most likely be seen during the second trimester, there are still cases where the twin goes undetected even after numerous ultrasound examinations.

This happens because the hidden twin gets overshadowed by the other. Meaning, the twin is positioned directly behind the other, sort of like an eclipse.

How common are surprise twins?

In general, giving birth to surprise twins is uncommon but this does not mean that it is impossible. There are a lot of women who share their stories about their hidden twin pregnancy. This may be because perhaps the ultrasound is misleading or misinterpreted or that some women do not get prenatal care.

When it comes to ultrasounds, it is in the 20th week where everything is clear and visible in the mother’s womb. So, if ever a second fetus really is present, it is at this time that a hidden twin is confirmed.

Then, if babies are monochorionic or are both inside a single sac (chorion), the environment would force the fetuses to be so closely positioned that makes it tricky to be detected in an ultrasound scan.

If a woman fails to go through these needed prenatal checkups where ultrasound scans are routinary, then the hidden twin goes undetected until the time that they are born. There are some parts of the world where pregnant mothers do not get any prenatal care at all.

Are there hidden twin pregnancy symptoms?

Aside from a mother’s gut-feel, twin pregnancy symptoms include elevated HcG levels, severe morning sickness, gaining more weight than usual, severe nausea and vomiting, an unusually high AFP (Alpha-fetoprotein) blood test result, measuring large for your gestational age, more frequent fetal movement, and severe fatigue.

Although these are common signs and symptoms of multiple pregnancies, these can be misleading. To really know for sure, an ultrasound examination is the most recommended way to find out for sure.

Are there known cases of surprise twins at birth today?

There have been a number of reported cases of surprise twins. One case tells the experience of a woman named Chloë Wilson back in 2013 that was published in The Guardian, while another is the experience of a Michigan couple in December 2017.

During the pregnancy of Chloë Wilson, she said she didn’t have any blood tests, scans or measurements, and not even an ultrasound scan during her 12th week. She “trusted her instincts” and believed her body did not need help.

She did feel symptoms that she is having a multiple pregnancy but would dismiss them. She discounted having twins because she didn’t have any in their family.

Six weeks before her expected day of birth, she went into labor and it went on for about ten hours. Finally in the hospital, a doctor examined her and guided her through the birthing process. Soon enough the doctor said she was having twins but both of her babies were in danger.

The head of one of her babies was wedged because it was being blocked by the other twin. But in due time, the twins delivered successfully. The babies were very little, being only 3 pounds each and their lungs were not yet fully developed.

The other case was reported In Fremont, Michigan via USA Today.  The couple, Matt and Nicole Ziesemer, decided not to do an ultrasound during the pregnancy. They wanted to have as little intervention as possible.

On December 30, 2017, Nicole gave birth to their daughter at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial Hospital and thought that that was it. But when their doctor, Megan Forshee, checked on Nicole, she found something rather unexpected and surprising.

The doctor realized that there was another head, a second baby. An hour later after giving birth to their daughter, her brother was born.

Both cases show that the mother and the couple decided not to have the routinary ultrasounds.

What are the risks of having unexpected twins?

As soon as a woman is found to be pregnant with twins, her pregnancy is ramped up to a high-risk category.

The common risks a mother and the babies may be susceptible to include premature birth, twin-twin transfusion syndrome, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, iron deficiency anemia, and low birth weight that is contributory to health problems after birth like cerebral palsy, vision and hearing loss, and mental disabilities.

So, if a woman is having unexpected twins, it may be more difficult for her to give birth later on since she is not fully prepared. It is also possible that she will not receive the needed preventive health care for the risks stated above. This poses a potential threat not only to her as a mother but to her twins, as well.

To avoid being caught off guard and being unprepared for such complications, it is therefore important that mothers get the much-needed prenatal care for close monitoring all throughout the pregnancy. This is the best way to assure the health and well-being of both the mother and the babies.

The information discussed about having surprise twins at birth highlights the importance of prenatal care for pregnant women.

This not only assures a safe and healthy pregnancy, but it also guarantees that the mother is fully prepared for what is to be expected, especially when it comes to giving birth which is something considered high-risk.

Is it just us or have you also noticed how so many celebrities are having twins? Beyonce and Jay Z famously have a pair, as do George and Amal Clooney, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Julie Bowen, Neil Patrick Harris, Julia Roberts, and so many more.

How often are twins born and is there a way to increase the likelihood of having them?

How often are twins born?

According to the National Centre for Health Statistics in the US, the twin birth rate in 2016 was 33.4 of every 1,000 live births. That means that the odds of having twins are about 3 in 100 or around 3%.

Twin births have increased significantly in the last three decades, which means your chances of having one today is so much better than it was a generation ago.

Twins make up around 97% of all multiple births. In 2016, there were 131,723 twin births, 3,755 triplet births, 217 quadruplet births, and just 31 quintuplets and other higher order births.

The two most common types of twins are identical and fraternal. Identical or monozygotic twins originate from one egg that was fertilised by one sperm. Fraternal or dizygotic twins come from two eggs that were fertilised by two sperms.

Identical twins are born 100% genetically identical while fraternal twins share about the same percentage of their DNA as (non-twin) siblings with the same biological parents do.

About one in every three pairs of twins is identical. The likelihood that a non-identical twin will be male or female is fairly equal. This is the same as the chances of a singleton baby being born male or female.

Why are there so many twins nowadays?

Back to our initial question. Yes, there are actually more twins today than there have been for many generations.

Twins and multiples may make up only about 3% of all live births, but the twin birth rate has increased by a whopping 70% since the early 1980s. The birth rate for triplets and higher order multiples has grown even more — by as much as 400%!

Statistics show that the twin birth rate has been rising steadily since the ‘80s. According to researchers, one of the big reasons for this is that women have been waiting longer to have children, thereby increasing the average age at which women give birth to their firstborn.

Age is a huge factor when it comes to conceiving twins. As women get older, hormonal changes make it so that the body releases more than one egg every month. This increases the possibility that more than one egg will be fertilised, resulting in a twin or multiple pregnancies.

The prevalence of fertility drugs and in vitro fertilization, as well as other technologies that help parents conceive, is another major reason for the increase in the twin birth rate.

In previous generations, before assisted fertility techniques were commonplace, couples who had trouble conceiving would simply opt to stay childless or to adopt. But in recent decades, more and more couples have resorted to the reproductive technologies available to them.

Parents who use fertility drugs or undergo in vitro fertilisation have a higher chance of conceiving twins and multiples. This is because fertility drugs stimulate the ovaries to release more eggs and because it’s still common practice to insert more than two embryos in the hopes that at least one will result in a successful pregnancy.

A third reason behind the rising twin birth rate is the advancements in premature baby care. Twins and multiples are prone to be born early. Now that hospitals are better equipped to care for premature babies, twins and multiples who are born very premature have a better chance of survival.

Your likelihood of conceiving twins

The odds of having twins or multiples is determined by a bunch of different factors, including:

• Age — Mums who are 35 or older have a higher chance of conceiving fraternal twins or multiples than younger mums.
• Heredity — If twins run in your family, you have a slightly better chance of having a twin than those with no twins in their family. This is especially true if the mum is a fraternal twin herself, if she has siblings who are fraternal twins, or if her mother or her maternal grandmother were twins.
• The number of pregnancies — The more pregnancies you’ve had, the higher the chance of conceiving twins.
• History — If you’ve already had fraternal twins, your chances of having another pair in subsequent pregnancies is four times higher than that of the average woman.
• Race — Mums of Caucasian or African American heritage have a much better chance of conceiving twins than Asians, Native Americans, and Hispanics.
• Height — Women who are tall are more likely to have fraternal twins than short women. According to a 2006 study, mums of multiples are, on average, one and a quarter inches taller than mums of singletons. The researchers surmised that tall women have higher levels of insulin-like growth factor than women with short stature. This is a protein that increases ovulation and has been linked to both height and spontaneous twinning.
• Body type — Studies have also shown that mums who are obese or have a BMI of 30 or higher have a 30% to 60% better chance of having fraternal twins than average.
• Fertility treatments — Women who undergo assisted reproduction are more likely to have twins. 24% of births resulting from in vitro fertilisation are twins or multiples. This is around 20 times the twin birth rate from natural conception.
• Going off the pill — Studies on this have conflicted, but it has long been suggested that after you stop taking birth control pills, you go into a hyper ovulation phase. It’s believed that during this period, the chances of having a twin pregnancy greatly improves.

Now you know how to answer when someone asks the question “How often are twins born?” If you want to learn more about twins statistics and similar topics, check out our Twins and Multiples section.