If choosing a name is a delightful experience for parents to singletons, what more for parents to twins, let alone, twin boys? Naming your very own dynamic duo may be considered an adventure worth exploring. The ultimate goal is to find the best twin names for boys that would sound that they truly belong together.

Naming Twin Boys: Going to the root of it all

We all know how it feels to want everything perfect and this includes choosing our kids’ names. There are a number of ways to name your twins and there are so many popular twin name pairings.

But of course, in any name-choosing adventure, you’d need to be sure of the reasons why you would like to name your twins in a certain way in the first place. Here are some essential questions to ask before making the final decision:

• Do I really want to declare to the world that my twins are a pair? Should their names really emphasize that they’re twins?
• Will the names have the same initials? (Michael Louie and Matthew Lawrence)
• Will the names confuse a twin for another? Will their names sound confusing?
• When they’re older, will their names standalone?
• Will they be able to have easy options for nicknames?

Once you’ve given an answer to each of these questions, you’ll get a clearer perspective as to how to go about choosing your twin boys’ names.

Where can I get some inspiration for the best twin names?

One source of inspiration is the twins’ birth order. How does this work? Well, it’s basically naming your multiples alphabetically. The first born twin can have a name that begins with “A,” then the next will have a “B” name. If you have multiples, then this may even go as far as the letter “D.”

Another easy way to come up with names is to go for matching names. This is a preferred option for a lot of parents to multiples but be sure they don’t sound or feel like clones. Each name should still represent a certain sense of individuality while having that special twin connection. With this, it is better not to choose rhyming names.

You can also choose two surnames as your twin boys’ first names. This gives you a lot of room for originality, plus it is a growing trend nowadays. You have a number of really great surnames as options like Cooper, Quinn, Cole, Dawson, and many others. These names give a special x-factor, especially with twin boys.

Stick with a theme when thinking of names for your dynamic duo. What category do you find you or your family most interesting? The theme you choose to base your twins’ names on could be something that reflects the family’s personality.

Common examples of themes for names are royal associations, mythological-inspired, literature-based, artistic associations, nature-inspired, oceanic, precious metal or stones, presidential associations, and so much more.

Of course, whichever option you choose in naming your twin boys, it is recommended that you be able to wait until you see them to make the final decision.

100+ Twin Names for Boys

Cute Twin Boy Names

• Alex, Nick
• Austin, Evan
• Bowie, Cy
• Brandon and Bryan
• Broughton, Bailee
• Cale, Josh
• Carleton, Cabe
• Carnell, Cabe
• Carter, Cash
• Chase, Chance
• Christian, Christopher
• Clover, Cliff
• Cooper, Kingsley
• Dan and Nad
• Daniel and David
• Daniel, David
• Darby, Sullivan
• Darvin, Dace
• Devron, Cort
• Dexter, Frank
• Dontae, Danon
• Dylan, Cole
• Elmer, Kevin
• Erie, Eadric
• Evan, Ethan
• Finley, Harper
• Flynt, Fabian
• Gideon, Harper,
• Greg, Gage
• Harold, Henry
• Hartley, Lydon
• Hayden, Hunter
• Henly, Hadden
• James, John
• Jesse, Journet
• Jett, Jasper
• Joel, Eli
• Kendell, Kaidan
• Landon and Logan
• Lars, James
• Lindsay, Ladd
• Lucas, Logan
• Mark, Matt
• Matthew, Michael
• Parker, Corvin
• Raffi, Louden
• Royal, Basil
• Storm, Sadler
• Taylor, Tyler
• Vernon, Vail
• Victor, Vincent
• Wayde, Daelan
• Wiley, Wade
• Wilkes, Walker

Twin Boy Names That Rhyme

• Barrette, Jarrette
• Bennette, Kenneth
• Berkeley, Bailee
• Blake, Jake
• Brian, Ian
• Cassius, Lucius
• Chad, Tad
• Clark, Markk
• Daniel, Nathaniel
• Dario, Mario
• Darius, Julius
• Deon, Leon
• Earl, Burl
• Ernie, Freddie
• Everette, Averett
• Gabby, Willy
• Jay, Trey
• Jon, Lon
• Landon, London
• Manny, Danny
• Mason, Jason
• Melvin, Alvin
• Michael, Gabriel
• Rex, Dex
• Rhett, Brett
• Richard, Willard
• Richmond, Radford
• Sawyer, Royer
• Shawn, John
• Titus, Maximus
• Tripp, Kip

Unique Twin Boy Names

• Bronwyn Slater
• Carter, Cash
• Dacian, Dace
• Elven, Aeddric
• Ernest, Roel
• Ethen, Wyatt
• Gabrielle, Jaques
• Holliday, Hadden
• Isaac and Isaiah
• Jacob and Joshua
• Jade, Jayden
• Jaid, Jax
• Jerem, Josiah
• Jevan, Jacey
• Joaquin, Felipe
• Jonah, Jemimah
• Kelton, Kaidan
• Mann, Mabry
• Mason, Maddox
• Orman, Jarred
• Percival, Paden
• Phoenix, Lennox
• Ronaldo, Valentino
• Roumelle, Russel
• Santiago, Sebastian
• Teddy, Angelo
• Thurmond, Tait
• Valentine, Ralph
• Valentino, Matteo

With this interesting list of the best twin names for boys, you can now jumpstart your naming adventure! Just remember that what matters is that the names you choose reflect who you are as a family.

Some couples have a difficult time conceiving twins naturally because of medical conditions, among other factors. Fortunately, advancements in the medical field have produced technologies, making it possible for women to conceive even in vitro fertilization twins.

You read that right— twins that are conceived via IVF. Although it may seem far-fetched, numerous studies and testimonies point to the potential of the medical procedure in increasing a woman’s chances of having multiple babies in just one pregnancy.

What is In Vitro Fertilization or IVF?

In vitro fertilization is the process of fertilizing a woman’s egg cell outside of her body and implanting it afterward. While many are attesting to the effectiveness of the procedure, it wasn’t always as it is now.

In fact, according to a review of 30 years worth of in vitro fertilization advancement, the first experimentation on fertilizing oocytes outside the human body resulted in several miscarriages. It also caused an unsuccessful fallopian tube pregnancy in one instance.

Then, a breakthrough in the medical field happened in the 1970s. Lesley Brown, a patient from England who was diagnosed with infertility for nine years, underwent the procedure with the help of Oldham General Hospital’s Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe.

Without the help of any fertility drugs, Brown underwent laparoscopic egg retrieval where one of her eggs was fertilized and implanted back to her womb. Then, she became the first woman to conceive a child via in vitro fertilization successfully. She gave birth to her daughter, Louise Brown, in July 1978.

How IVF Works

To help aspiring mothers and their partners understand IVF, the American Pregnancy Association explained how the process works in five steps:

1. The mother-to-be is prepped to produce egg cells. At this point, she is given fertility medication to help stimulate the production of egg cells. She also undergoes ovarian examination via transvaginal ultrasound and blood testing to determine her hormone levels.
2. Multiple eggs are retrieved through ultrasound-assisted minor surgery.
3. Her partner is also asked to produce sperm samples which will be used to fertilize the extracted egg cells. For some cases, a sperm bank or sperm donors are sought.
4. Then, the egg and sperm cells are mixed through a process called insemination. Some cases may require intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to increase the probability of fertilization.
5. Once fertilization is confirmed after seeing cell division, the embryos are returned to the woman’s uterus using a small tube or catheter.

Although the process is virtually painless, some women are given medication for the discomfort they might feel during the extraction and implantation process which concludes within a span of six to ten days.

In Vitro For Twins

Because of the increasing success rate of the procedure, in vitro fertilization has already gained so much popularity among couples who have trouble conceiving. People who want to have twins are starting to turn to the procedure because it can increase the probability of having multiples in one pregnancy.

To raise the chances of success for the medical procedure, doctors extract and fertilize multiple egg cells in a laboratory dish. After that, they also put more than one embryo inside the mother’s womb for a better chance of implantation. This means that if the two fertilized egg cells get implanted, twins are conceived.

However, statistics show that only 1 out of 10 IVF births turn out to be twins even if a lot of people— experts and non-experts— attest to the increased chances of having twins with IVF. This was revealed after the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA), a fertility clinic regulator in the United Kingdom, declared their goal to minimize multiples in a pregnancy.

The HFEA is pursuing a lower rate of multiples pregnancy through IVF. Although some people may consider it a blessing, authorities find it alarming because of the increased risk for mothers who conceive multiples.

What are the Risks of In Vitro Fertilization Twins?

There are two types of risk attached to twins conceived through in vitro fertilization: the side effects of the procedure itself and the dangers of carrying twins.

The procedure has been developed in a way that would minimize discomfort or pain for the patients, but some women still experience certain side effects shortly after the IVF. Some of these include:

• mild cramping
• constipation
• breast tenderness
• vomiting
• shortness of breath
• fainting
• mild bloating

There are also some situations when the patients experience a condition called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). As far as the recorded incidents are concerned, about 10 percent of aspiring moms who undergo IVF procedures experience OHSS symptoms, some of which are included in the list above.

More severe OHSS symptoms include:

• Sudden weight gain of over 10 pounds between 3 and 5 days
• Intense abdominal pain and bloating
• Severe nausea
• Dizziness
• Impaired urinary function
• Rapid heartbeat and palpitations
• Shortness of breath

On top of that, conceiving twins via IVF also has certain risks for women who are 30 years or younger, are diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, have high anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels, underweight, or have a history with OHSS.

There are also complications to conceiving twins, including:

1. Preterm labor and birth;
2. Gestational diabetes;
3. Anemia;
4. Gestational high blood pressure;
5. Congenital disabilities;
6. Miscarriage; and
7. Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.

Almost all higher-ordered multiple pregnancies and 3 in 5 twins are born prematurely. Mothers carrying more than one fetus are at higher risk of experiencing gestational diabetes and anemia.

Similarly, pregnant women who are expecting twins or more have a bigger chance of developing hypertension. This is doubly troubling because of the higher probability of placental abruption.

On top of that, congenital disabilities like spina bifida, neural tube defects, and heart and digestive tract issues appear in multiple pregnancies.

And then, there’s the mysterious condition called the “vanishing twin syndrome” which happens during the first trimester of gestation for some women.

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome may also occur in twins who share a single placenta. This condition is characterized by one twin getting less blood while the other gets too much.

Over time, the “donor” fetus develops low amniotic fluid levels while the recipient fetus has too much. In some cases, twins with TTTS needed to be delivered prematurely.

While in vitro fertilization twins are indeed possible, it is best to know everything there is to know first before signing any waiver. Aside from the incredible benefits of having multiples in one pregnancy, couples should take the risks into account, too.

You know that there’s a saying that twins develop their own language as they grow up? Well, there are a couple of studies that may support that argument, and there’s no denying that twins talking to one another is an adorable sight to see!

We’ve compiled some of the cutest videos we could find around the internet. Come and take a peek.

6 Times Twins Talking Made Our Hearts Melt

First off is Ellen’s famous “talking baby twins” translation, which made our smiles wide and our hearts melt:

These twin babies talking to each other is quite a sight to see – thinking up of new ways to prank people! It wouldn’t be surprising that they would grow up into quite the imaginative adults.

Next, we have these two twins talking to each other, making sure each one is doing fine:

I mean, after a birth, you would want to see if your best buddy got out with you, right? We particularly love the soft cooing at the end – almost like the one is reassuring the other. The little stolen glances are also very sweet!

Here’s a pair that seems to be holding a conversation all on their own:

It’s often telling as to how twins talking to one another will reflect the temperament they have as adults. Being around their twin most of the time brings out the best in them.

Speaking that, here are two twins who are just starting to grasp the concept of “sharing”:

One of the best things about having a twin is that you can be sure that your child will always be around someone their age. It’s a great way for them to learn how to socialize and develop the skills necessary for them to go about life growing up!

“Hey, this one baby looks like me!”

One of the things that twins realize early on is the presence of another that looks and sounds exactly like them – but isn’t. This is especially true in the case of identical twins, and it leads to a lot of adorable and cute moments like this one.

And finally, here’s a pair of twins that embody the idea of “teamwork”:

You can’t understand what they’re saying to each other, but you somehow know the meaning is clear! Truly, twins have their own unique way of talking that starts quite early in their lives. No matter what language they use, you can be sure that they have their ways of understanding one another.

Twins talking to each other never gets old – there’s always something to be gleaned about two separate individuals that can seem to understand each other on a level that those without twins can never understand. If you have a pair of twins that exhibit this behavior, let us know in the comments below!

If you are purposely planning to have two babies but want to deal with the pain that comes with pregnancy only once, chances are you’ve researched about how to improve your chances of conceiving multiples. Lucky for you, there is a couple of fertility treatment for twins that you can try out.

But before you undergo any procedure to alter how your body is naturally made, you should first read on to learn more about conception, fertility, and other practical options, if only to stay on the safe side of things.

What Affects Your Chances of Twin Conception

In a perfect world, we all get what we want. We can choose how we wish our family to be completed, be it through several singles or one multiples pregnancy.

Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world. We can only hope to receive what we have dreamed of if it is in line with Nature’s way of doing things. The United Kingdom’s National Health Service explained that all women have equal chances of conceiving identical twins since this particular phenomenon doesn’t run in the family.

The thing is, there isn’t any science-backed indicator of what causes it.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you cannot try for twins. After all, the outcome of whatever endeavor we pursue is partially based on our own choices.

With that in consideration, it is important to take various factors that affect a woman’s ability to conceive twins before trying anything else.

1. Age

Age plays a huge factor in twin conception because of the increased level of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Because of this, women who are 30 years or older have a higher chance of having twins than those below the said age range.

2. Genes

Although it may not be a factor for monozygotic or identical twins, your lineage is still a factor in your chances of getting pregnant with twins. More specifically, any history of dizygotic fraternal twins in the family will increase the possibility of multiples pregnancies in your life because you have a higher chance of ovulating more than one egg in a single cycle.

3. Weight and Height

Obesity is another significant factor in multiples pregnancies. This is because women who have a BMI of more than 30 tend to have higher fat levels which means they also have more estrogen—the hormone that stimulates ovulation— in their body. The irony here is that heavier women have a more difficult time conceiving.

Meanwhile, taller ladies who are 164.8 cm or about 5 feet 4.8 inches in height are also more likely to conceive multiples. Studies revealed that better nutrition might be what causes this phenomenon, but there is still a lot that needs to be researched before it becomes a concrete explanation.

4. Number of Children

Mothers who have more children are also more likely to have multiples pregnancies.

5. Ethnicity and Race

Since twins and other multiples pregnancies are also affected by genetics, it isn’t surprising that a woman’s ethnicity and race also play a role in the occurrence of the phenomenon. Caucasian women are less likely to have twins than African-Americans. Asians, on the other hand, have the lowest chance of multiples.

6. Diet

Diet is also a factor in twin pregnancies. Although there is still much to be studied on this, some scientists theorize that women who consume more dairy products than others have a higher chance of conceiving twins. A theory suggests that certain growth hormones fed to cows may be the reason behind this.

Fertility Treatment for Twins

After learning about what affects your chances of getting pregnant with twins, you should also know what you can do to improve it. After all, you only lose your opportunity to succeed in your goal when you give up.

There are several treatments that hold significant promise in that area, including:

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a process used to help women conceive. Although it was not inherently made to boost multiples pregnancies, it is starting to become the top choice for couples who want twins.

In vitro twins are conceived through the implantation of two fertilized egg cells. While this may be accidental most of the time, some women are starting to request that more than one embryo is administered to increase their chance of getting pregnant with twins by about 20 to 40 percent.

Intrauterine Insemination

Intrauterine insemination or IUI is a procedure that entails the injection of sperm directly to a woman’s uterus using a syringe. However, IUI alone doesn’t increase the chance of multiples pregnancies. You’ll have to use it with fertility drugs.

Fertility Medications

Fertility medication is another treatment you can try to improve a woman’s chances of conceiving twins. However, it is important to note that you should only take these drugs consulting your gynecologist.

Below are some of the medications that have the highest potential of boosting twin conception:

• Gonadotropins – Informally referred to as injectables, this medication can only be administered by injection. It has a luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), or an LH-FSH combination that promote ovulation. These two hormones play a vital role in ovulation because the FSH stimulates ovarian follicles while LH helps egg cells achieve a growth spurt.
• Letrozole – This particular medication is prescribed to women diagnosed with infertility or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, this use is more unofficial than sanctioned as letrozole is an FDA-approved breast cancer drug.
• Clomiphene – More popularly known as Clomid, this medication helps stimulate the production of egg cells, thereby increasing chances of pregnancy. Some studies also reveal the potential for this drug in promoting the release of an additional egg cell, which may be why it is prescribed by doctors to women who want more than one child but wish to undergo pregnancy only once.

Understanding your chances of conceiving multiples is a great way to either accept your fate or change it. By doing so, you fully grasp where you stand, making you fully capable of choosing a fertility treatment for twins that is most effective and appropriate for you.

When you think of twins, the initial assumption is that they’re two babies born at the same time. Of course, one twin would be older by a couple of minutes, but generally, you’d expect them to have the same birthday.

A couple of minutes can mean a lot in the proper context – which is why as impossible as it sounds, twins born in different years exist.

How is this possible? By a mixture of exceptional circumstances, medical preference, or just sheer luck. Taking all these factors into account, people having a twin with a different birthday suddenly doesn’t seem too far-fetched.

In fact, as you’ll find out in the following cases, it can be more common than you might think – and probably less of a fuss than you might imagine.

How does this happen?

As previously mentioned, in twin births, one baby comes out after the other. Even during C-sections, there’s always one baby that’s removed first from the uterus, and the other one follows shortly after. Midwives and nurses will generally list down the moment the baby takes its first breath as its date and time of birth.

These intervals can usually last anything from up to a couple of minutes to an hour in natural twin births. For those giving birth to multiple babies, this can continue for even longer. Generally speaking, in most normal deliveries, such intervals are regular.

However, there are cases where the birth of one baby comes much earlier than expected, either due to complications or medical emergencies.

In fact, during the delivery itself, the position of the two fetuses can cause difficulty in them getting out the birth canal – necessitating a delay. And sometimes, there are even more severe cases.

There are cases like delayed interval twin delivery, where a medical complication or some other factor causes a twin to be prematurely born. In which case, doctors will prefer the twin left behind to be left in-utero for as long as possible, to ensure that their eventual birth will be less complicated to deal with.

These cases are almost always considered as premature births since twins should typically be delivered at the same time to avoid complications for both the twins and the mother.

Premature birth itself comes with a whole slew of complications for one twin, which is the preferable option is to let the other twin be born in the most natural way possible.

Here are some few complications that premature birth can present to children:

While the mother can provide most of the nutrients needed for twins to grow, there are some complications where the mother’s body cannot deal with. Whether through some maternal instinct or self-preservation of the fetus itself, premature birth is triggered.

Sometimes, these delays are medically triggered, but these cases are few and far in between.

Twins Born In Different Years

That being said, there is a case where twins have been born on separate years. Just earlier this year, a mother from California gave birth to fraternal twins minutes apart. The baby boy was born on the 31st of December, 2017 at 11:58 pm – while the baby girl was born on January 1st, 2018 at 12:16 am.

On the other side of the ocean, another couple in the UK welcomed twins of their own: with one girl being born 11:40 pm on the 31st of December, and her twin sister following at 12:03 am on the 1st of January.

This only goes to show that the odds are a little more favorable than you’d think they’d be – even if the situation seems extremely far-fetched. It just takes timing and the circumstances that fit the occasion to come up with strange cases like these.

But is there anything special to it?

In many cases, no. Since listing down the time and place of birth is more for legal reasons, in many instances twins that do not share the same birthday are treated as separate people. It’s the case for all multiple births, no matter what kind of twin or multiple they may be.

Since it’s much easier to process paperwork by considering the babies as two separate individuals, that’s what most hospitals follow.

The issue may come if there is specific legislation such as benefits that either take place or expire on the particular day itself. For example, one twin can be eligible for some grants that expire the following year – but as these are considered fringe cases, they are very rarely discussed.

In the worst-case scenario, the parents of the children may have to bring their papers to a municipal or regional court, but most government benefits will fall under a “common-sense” law that prevents such a tedious process.

As it stands, even if the twins in question will face some legal disputes, it should be quickly resolved with the paperwork from the hospital.

What are the chances of these happening to my kids?

Well, if you’re a mother expecting her own twin bundles of joy, all you have to do is count! Most twins are generally born quite healthy and on schedule, and if you keep your visits to your doctor regularly, you’ll usually get no issues with this.

Maybe an interesting story, but isn’t that part of the fun and magic of having children? As a parent, your primary concern should still be the well-being and happiness of your children, no matter what circumstances surround their birth.

Whatever the case, raising your twin children in a loving, healthy, and happy environment should always be the priority, regardless of how they are born.

Do you know someone who still thinks that twins born in different years are just a myth? Or how about some similarly unique cases of twin birth? Share them in the comments below!

Who carries the twin gene? Further, can a twin have twins? For some couples who want to have twins, questions like these would surface every now and then.

They can even go as far as finding ways to increase their chances and do everything they can to sway these odds to their favour. Before doing anything, though, it pays to do some research.

Can a twin have twins?

Basically, if you or your partner have a history of twinning in the family, then there is a higher chance of conceiving twins. Specifically, this is true for women who have fraternal twins in her line of the family.

More specifically, a woman who is a fraternal twin herself has a 1 in 60 chance of conceiving her own twins. Men, on the other hand, who are fraternal twins will have a 1 in 125 chance of being a father to twins.

Generational Twinning: Is this possible?

It is assumed that having twins in the family is genetic and that it runs in the family. But others go beyond that and believe that twins skip a generation. Although this is considered a myth, there may be some truth to this skip-a-generation theory.

To understand this further, we have to understand hyperovulation. Hyperovulation causes a woman to release more than one egg in a cycle. If two or more eggs are fertilized, fraternal twins occur.

The gene that causes hyperovulation is said to be hereditary, so only the mother’s genetics influences the chances of having twins in the family.

Children who receive genes from their parents may inherit the twin gene that causes hyperovulation. If twins run in the mother’s side, her children may inherit it and can conceive twins in their generation.

If, for example, the father is a silent carrier of the twin gene, he could pass it on to his daughter who may conceive twins herself through the inherited twin gene that causes hyperovulation.

The daughter of a couple who the dad or mom is the carrier of the twin genes may have twins. The son of the couple would not because men don’t ovulate. But then this does not discount the fact that the son may have inherited the twin gene.

If he has a daughter of his own, he can pass this gene on to his daughter, and it is possible for him to have twins as grandchildren. In this case, the skip-a-generation theory is correct.

What can increase my chances of having twins?

There are factors that increase the odds of having twins. Here are a number of them.

1. A woman’s ethnicity can increase the chances of having twins. Women from Nigeria have the highest rate of twinning, while the Japanese have the lowest.
2. Women over 30 may more likely conceive twins. This is because women at this age have a higher concentration of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), which is responsible for developing eggs. An excess can cause two or more eggs to be released in a cycle.
3. Giving birth to fraternal twins is more common among women who are taller or overweight. This may be because they take in more nutrients than the average.
4. Women who are breastfeeding may conceive twins. A study revealed that the rate of having twins is 11.4% of breastfeeding moms compared to 1.1% in women who don’t breastfeed.
5. Some studies found that women who consume a lot of dairy products may likely conceive twins. This is because the growth hormones given to cows also affect the hormone levels in humans who consume dairy products.
6. Fertility treatments boost ovulation and may lead to multiples. Such procedures that increase the tendency of twinning involves intake of Clomid, Femara, gonadotropins, IUI treatment, and IVF treatment.

I’m expecting twins, now what?

Prenatal care in moms carrying multiples is to be given the highest attention and priority. Since they have a higher risk of developing complications, you would need to see your doctor more often.

During the first trimester, usually, the healthcare provider would need to see you every two to three weeks. When you enter the second trimester, you would need two visits in a month. And in the third trimester, you’ll have to visit weekly. These frequent visits are done to monitor your health, as well as your babies.

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This allows prevention and early detection of any complications that arise. Some of these complications that health providers watch out for include preterm labor, preeclampsia or pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR), gestational diabetes, fetal demise or loss, and fetal well-being.

Preterm labor happens when twins are born before they are 32 weeks old. Preeclampsia is a complication related to high blood pressure with some evidence of damage to other organ systems, which is usually the liver and kidneys. Preeclampsia begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

IUGR is a condition when a baby is born smaller than the average newborn, perhaps because it did not grow normally while it was in the womb. Gestational diabetes, on the other hand, causes high blood sugar and can significantly affect a mother’s pregnancy, as well as the babies’ health.

Fetal demise is a medical term for stillbirth which pertains to the baby dying in the uterus. This may happen during or after the 20th week of pregnancy. Of course, monitoring the fetal well being of twins involve many tests.

These tests include the Non-Stress Test (NST) where fetal heart rate is measured; the Bio-Physical Profile (BPP), which uses ultrasound to evaluate the baby’s movements; Amniotic Fluid Index (AF), which is particular with the amount of amniotic fluid present; and kick counts.

So, beyond asking “Can a twin have twins?”, what is essential is understanding the whole process of how twins are conceived and how they run in the family. The even more important thing is getting the best prenatal care which is absolutely a priority for a stress-free and happy pregnancy.

There are a lot of opinions when it comes to asking, “Do twins skip a generation?” The common belief is that every other generation would most likely have twins, especially if their great-grandparents have had twins in the family.

Although there are both fact and fiction to this widely held myth, here are the things you need to understand about having twins in the family.

Do twins skip a generation?

Twinning has something to do with heredity. If the mother’s side has fraternal twins in her immediate family, she will have higher chances of conceiving fraternal twins as well. Why? Because she most likely has the gene that causes women to hyperovulate.

Hyperovulation happens when the body releases more than one egg in a menstrual cycle because of the higher concentration of hormones related to releasing eggs.=

If, on the other hand, having twins is experienced on the father’s side, this is not a guarantee of a higher chance of having multiples in his own immediate family. This is simply because fathers don’t ovulate at all. Even if he inherits the hyperovulation gene from his parents, this won’t increase his chances of having twins as children.

Which side of the family do twins run on?

Quite frankly, it is the mother’s genetics that plays a role in the possibility of giving birth to twins, specifically fraternal twins, because only women ovulate. Also, a father cannot make a woman release more than one egg. So, when it comes to twins, it is the mother’s side you would want to be more observant of.

Is there such a thing as “twin genes”?

In the plight to find out why women with families who have had fraternal twins have higher tendencies to give birth to twins themselves, research has stepped in. A team of researchers led by molecular geneticist Hamdi Mbarek gathered data from about two thousand mothers of fraternal twins from various countries which includes the Netherlands, Australia, and Minnesota.

These researchers looked for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or individual DNA bases that would appear more often in moms of fraternal twins and not in others. Once these SNPs were found, they ran an analysis narrowing down the list to just two distinct SNPs that increased the chances of a mother by 29% in having fraternal twins.

These two genes are called FSHB and SMAD3 – which can now be identified as the “twin genes.”

What do twin genes FSHB and SMAD3 do exactly?

The gene FSHB is directly involved in producing follicle-stimulating hormones or FSH. When the eggs in the ovaries mature, the FSH levels fluctuate. If these levels would stay too high for a long period of time, multiple eggs will be released by the ovaries. This can lead to conceiving fraternal twins, associating FSHB with giving birth to twins.

SMAD3 is a gene changes how the ovaries would respond to FSH. SMAD3 would explain why some women would respond better to in vitro fertilization compared to others because those women who have the SMAD3 gene would most likely get pregnant through that procedure.

How likely is it to have twins?

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In the year 2013, it is reported that twins occurred in about three in a hundred births in the US. This increase in having multiples may be due to different reasons. The first is because a lot more women waited longer than usual to have a baby.

If women conceive later, it is likely that hormonal changes in older women cause the body to release more than one egg in one menstrual cycle. Secondly, women began going through assisted reproductive technology (ART) and fertility drugs to help in conception.

How can I increase my odds of having twins?

If you are like some who want to have twins, well you’re in luck (sort of). There are ways to increase the odds.

1. Try to conceive when you’re older because when a woman is just about to enter peri-menopause, there is such a thing as a “fertility spike” which influences a surge of estrogen. Twin pregnancies occur in women who are over 35 years of age.
2. Sign up for an in vitro fertilization procedure or take fertility drugs which increases the tendency of releasing more than one egg in a cycle.
3. Be of African or American in ethnicity. They have a higher rate of conceiving twins.
4. Try to get pregnant while taking the pill or try to conceive right after you’ve stopped taking the pill.
5. Be a twin yourself. Moms who are actually twins will more likely give birth to twins.
6. Eat more sweet potatoes or yams because it is proven that women who conceive twins are from areas where yams are the main thing in their diet.
7. Be taller than normal because they tend to conceive twins more.
8. Be heavier so you have a higher BMI. Those with a BMI of more than 30 have higher chances to get pregnant with twins. But then be extra careful because being obese is not really healthy.

What are other old wives’ tales about twin pregnancies?

Aside from the twins-skipping-a-generation myth, there are other myths about twins to stop believing in. One is the myth that identical twins communicate through ESP or extrasensory perception. There is no scientific evidence whatsoever that proves this to be so. Another is that male-female twins can be identical. The answer to this is false, 100%.

If twins are male-female, this means they are fraternal twins and not identical twins. The third debunked myth is that identical twins have identical fingerprints. And finally, it is not true that sharing a womb makes identical twins look exactly alike.

So, in summary, after reading all these information you still find yourself unconvinced and still ask, “Do twins skip a generation?” The answer is yes, there may be some truth to this myth.

If in any case, a father inherits the hyperovulation gene from his mother, it is possible that this gene is passed on to his own daughter. Then, it is highly possible that his daughter may release more than one egg leading her to conceive fraternal twins. And that, my friend, is how the skipping happens. There are also many other wives tales about twins that are worth reading.