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| There is something special about having twins, so how can you increase your chances of being doubly blessed. There are many reasons why you'd want twins. A career woman may wish to have only the one pregnancy but would still like to have two children. Others just want to experience the joy of twins. For women for whom getting pregnant is difficult, a twin pregnancy would save the physical, emotional and financial problems of expensive treatments. Here are some of the factors that can increase the odds of having twins: |
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The rate of twin and multiple pregnancies has increased significantly since the availability of fertility drugs and treatments. In IVF two embryos (and sometimes three) are routinely transferred to the uterus. Fertility drugs can cause other side effects, and should never be taken without medical supervision.
Older mums (those over 30) are statistically more likely to have twins (non-identical) with the peak age being 35 - 39. This does not include those who are on fertility treatment who also tend to be older. In the case of non identical twins, an increase in hormones around this age can result in more than one egg being released in the monthly cycle. For identical twins it has been suggested that the eggs in older women are more brittle and hence more inclined to split.
Women with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher have an increased chance of having twins. And taller women (in the 75 percentile for height) were also more likely to have twins and multiples than their shorter counterparts.
One of the first questions asked at the ante natal classes is - "Do twins run in your family". The reason is that, if you, your mother, or your mother's mother is a non-identical twin, your chances of having twins increases significantly. The maternal line carries a gene that increases the chances of more than one egg being released in an ovulation cycle, which increases your ability to conceive fraternal twins.
Women from African ethnic groups are more likely to have non-identical twins than white women (Nigeria has the highest twinning rate in the world, about 1 in 22). It is likely that diet is the cause, being high in cassava, a type of yam or sweet potato. The peelings of this vegetable are thought to contain a chemical that causes hyperovulation. Women from Asian ethnic groups are less likely to have non-identical twins.
You eat a pre-pregnancy diet rich in dairy and animal protein. Or go to Nigeria and eat some cassava (see above) |
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