By Sarah Jacoby, Refinery29
Amal and George Clooney have officially had their twins! Continue on to our original story below to learn more about the factors that make it more likely for people to have twins.
[post_ads]Our baes Amal Clooney and Beyoncé have more in common than being some of the most impressive women of our time: They're both expecting twins! Honestly, at this point, it seems like twins are almost a requirement to be one of the rich and famous. But it turns out that some people are just more likely to have twins, triplets, and beyond (a.k.a. multiple pregnancies) — and it doesn't always have to do with your level of celebrity.
[post_ads]Our baes Amal Clooney and Beyoncé have more in common than being some of the most impressive women of our time: They're both expecting twins! Honestly, at this point, it seems like twins are almost a requirement to be one of the rich and famous. But it turns out that some people are just more likely to have twins, triplets, and beyond (a.k.a. multiple pregnancies) — and it doesn't always have to do with your level of celebrity.
Most commonly, you end up with multiple pregnancies because more than one egg has made its way down your fallopian tubes during ovulation. As the Mayo Clinic explains, fraternal twins are the result of two eggs that are fertilized by two different sperm. In this case, each fetus ends up with its own placenta. However, in the less common case of identical twins, one egg is fertilized and then splits. From there, it develops into two separate fetuses that may or may not share a placenta.
Having twins is definitely a challenge — and not just because you get to deal with twice the diapers. It means you'll probably have all those usual pregnancy symptoms (e.g. morning sickness) earlier on than those carrying only one pregnancy. Having multiple pregnancies also puts you at a higher risk for several complications, including preterm birth and preeclampsia. After giving birth to your multiple bundles of joy, you're also at an increased risk for postpartum depression.
[post_ads_2]
Of course, everyone's pregnancy goes differently. And having more than one pregnancy at a time doesn't automatically mean you're sentenced to nine months (plus) of total agony. If you do end up with more than one bun, though, your doctor will want to see you for check-ups more often and may do a few more tests to make sure everything is going smoothly.
Of course, everyone's pregnancy goes differently. And having more than one pregnancy at a time doesn't automatically mean you're sentenced to nine months (plus) of total agony. If you do end up with more than one bun, though, your doctor will want to see you for check-ups more often and may do a few more tests to make sure everything is going smoothly.
Whether or not you're hoping to score double, read on to learn more about five factors that increase your odds of having multiple pregnancies.
Fertility Drugs
Drugs designed to increase your fertility — such as injectable hormones and clomiphene citrate — are the single most common cause of multiple pregnancies. That's because they encourage ovulation, even if you've already ovulated once during your current cycle. So these drugs significantly increase your odds of ending up with two fertilized eggs at once.
[post_ads_2]
Your Age
As people with ovaries age — especially once we reach 35 — we naturally become more likely to release more than one egg during a cycle (possibly because older women tend to have higher levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, research indicates). That makes twins more common among parents who are older.
Your Age
As people with ovaries age — especially once we reach 35 — we naturally become more likely to release more than one egg during a cycle (possibly because older women tend to have higher levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, research indicates). That makes twins more common among parents who are older.
In Vitro Fertilization
We often blame IVF for multiple pregnancies because it's possible to transfer multiple embryos at a time, a procedure that was much more popular in the 90s. But today, IVF actually causes fewer multiple pregnancies than it once did thanks to the recent development of more sophisticated techniques for stimulating the ovaries and developing embryos. These increase your chances of a successful birth without the need to compensate with multiple embryos.
[post_ads_2]
Your Previous Pregnancies
If you've had kids before (especially if you've had twins), that raises your likelihood of having a multiple pregnancy, thanks to a combination of your genetics and the simple fact that you get older with each successive pregnancy. Luckily, if you're a parent of twins already, this probably isn't too surprising to you — and it means you know the drill.
Your Previous Pregnancies
If you've had kids before (especially if you've had twins), that raises your likelihood of having a multiple pregnancy, thanks to a combination of your genetics and the simple fact that you get older with each successive pregnancy. Luckily, if you're a parent of twins already, this probably isn't too surprising to you — and it means you know the drill.
Your Family
If multiple pregnancies run in your family — perhaps you're a twin? — there's some evidence to suggest it's hereditary, meaning you're more likely to have twins yourself
