Getting out of the house with two babies, particularly if one is unwell, can be difficult. For more information and support, visit Twins Research Australia. Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. Birth rates for MZ twins are consistent among all races about 4 per ; but the incidence of DZ twinning varies among races 8 per , among Caucasians, 16 per among people of African descent, and 4 per among Asians.
A genetic predisposition or inherited characteristic for DZ twinning exists in some families, but the consistency of MZ twinning among all populations suggests that identical twinning is a random occurrence that is not influenced by genes. Read more on Twins Research Australia website. Read more on Better Health Channel website. There has been an overall increasing trend in multiple births in the last two decades in Australia.
Attributed largely to the increased use of fertility drugs and assisted reproduction technology and the growing number of older mothers. Get the facts you need about different types of twins. Read more on raisingchildren. If you are having twins, triplets or more, find out everything you need to know about your pregnancy, the birth, feeding and raising your babies.
Learn more about labour complications. Pregnant with twins? Helping twins to understand the psychology of their relationship means going right back to conception. They've had to share space right from the time of conception, and that really sets the stage for sharing space right throughout life. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is not responsible for the content and advertising on the external website you are now entering. Video call. This information is for your general information and use only and is not intended to be used as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes.
The information is not a substitute for independent professional advice and should not be used as an alternative to professional health care.
If you have a particular medical problem, please consult a healthcare professional. For more information, please visit the links below:. Bed rest improves uterine blood flow and may be helpful for fetal growth problems. Intercourse generally is discouraged when bed rest is recommended. Since preterm birth and growth disturbances are the major contributors to newborn death and disability in multiples, frequent obstetric visits and close monitoring of the pregnancy are needed.
Prenatal diagnosis using a variety of new techniques can be done near the end of the first trimester to screen for Down syndrome and other genetic abnormalities.
Amniocentesis may be performed between 16 and 20 weeks. Amniocentesis may be complicated and difficult to perform in twins and triplets and may not be possible in high-order multiple pregnancies.
However, reasonable data exist for the use of serum screening in the setting of multiple pregnancies and can be a helpful tool to assess risk of these and other conditions. Many physicians perform cervical examinations every week or two beginning early in pregnancy to determine if the cervix is thinning or opening prematurely.
If an exam or ultrasound shows that the cervix is thinning or beginning to dilate prematurely, a cerclage, or suture placed in the cervix, may prevent or delay premature dilatation. However, preventative cerclage has not been shown to prevent preterm birth in twins or triplets. Tocolytic agents are medications that may slow or stop premature labor.
It is important to attempt to delay delivery to minimize the risks of premature delivery. Ultrasound examinations in the second trimester can identify some birth defects. Assessment of fetal growth by ultrasound every 3 to 4 weeks during the second half of pregnancy is commonly performed. Every multiple pregnancy should be considered at high risk, and obstetricians experienced with the management of multiple gestations should provide care.
A neonatal intensive care unit nursery should be available to provide immediate and comprehensive support to premature newborns. Vaginal delivery of twins may be safe in some circumstances. Many twins can be delivered vaginally if the lowest infant is in the head-first position. Most triplets will be delivered by cesarean section. Appropriate anesthesia and neonatal support are essential, whether delivery is performed vaginally or requires cesarean section. Delivery of multiples requires planning by the entire medical team and availability of full intensive-care support following birth.
Although the majority of women with a multiple pregnancy do very well, their families may experience significant stress. If prolonged hospitalization is needed, arrangements must be made for work, home, and family care. Even when medical problems are overcome and the infants survive without disability, the effect of multiple births on family life is substantial.
The impact of a multiple birth clearly affects the parents, but also the babies, other siblings, and the extended family. Financial stresses are common, due to the additional costs of feeding, clothing, housing, and caring for multiple children. Postpartum depression also is more common after delivery of multiple pregnancies in both the mother and the father and may be long-term.
Psychological counseling and support groups may provide a lifeline for the parents of multiples, who may feel isolated or depressed. Most physicians can provide appropriate referrals to a mental health professional or a support group.
The objective of infertility treatment is the birth of a healthy child. In a small percentage of patients, treatment results in multiple pregnancy that may place the mother and the babies at increased risk for an unhealthy outcome.
Since multiple pregnancies and their complications are an inevitable risk of fertility therapies, education about these risks is crucial prior to treatment. Ultimately, prevention is the key to reducing the risk of multiple pregnancy. A professional medical organization of approximately 9, health care specialists interested in reproductive medicine.
A procedure in which a small amount of amniotic fluid is removed through a needle from the fetal sac at about 16 weeks into a pregnancy. The fluid is studied for chromosomal abnormalities that may affect fetal development. Thin membrane that expands to enclose a developing fetus.
This membrane sac holds the amniotic fluid that protects the developing fetus. Assisted reproductive technology ART. Placement of a nonabsorbable suture around an incompetent weak cervical opening in an attempt to keep it closed and thus prevent miscarriage.
Also known as a cervical stitch. Cerebral palsy. A disorder causing damage to one or more specific areas of the brain usually occurring during fetal development; before, during, or shortly after birth; or in infancy. Cerebral palsy is characterized by an inability to fully control motor function, particularly muscle control and coordination.
Other problems that may arise are difficulties in feeding, bladder and bowel control, problems with breathing, skin disorders, and learning disabilities. The lower, narrow end of the uterus that connects the uterine cavity to the vagina. Clomiphene citrate. An oral anti-estrogen drug used to induce ovulation in the female. A condition due to abnormal production of insulin resulting in abnormally elevated blood glucose sugar levels. Di - two; zygote - fertilized egg.
Two separate eggs fertilized by separate sperm in a single pregnancy. Fraternal twins. The earliest stage of human development arising after the union of the sperm and egg fertilization. Follicle ovarian. A fluid-filled sac located just beneath the surface of the ovary containing an egg oocyte and cells that produce hormones.
The sac increases in size and volume during the first half of the menstrual cycle and at ovulation the follicle matures and ruptures, releasing the egg. Fertility treatments, particularly IVF and ovary stimulants, do increase the chances of having twins. However, a twin pregnancy is riskier for both the woman and the developing fetuses.
For this reason, some fertility clinics advise against implanting multiple embryos during IVF treatment. The CDC recommend that younger women who are having their first fertility treatment select just one embryo for transfer to their womb.
As the success of fertility treatment is improving, there is often less need to transfer more than one embryo. Transferring just one or two embryos reduces the likelihood of a multiple pregnancy. Although certain factors increase the chance of having twins, there is no way to improve the odds of having twins naturally. A woman will usually find out that she is pregnant with twins from an ultrasound early on in the pregnancy.
Some symptoms may indicate a twin pregnancy, including more intense morning sickness and very rapid weight gain. Regular medical appointments will improve the chances of a healthy pregnancy. During a healthy pregnancy, it is typically safe to continue having sex. In fact, sex during pregnancy can have various benefits for the woman….
Epsom salt is a common home remedy for many ailments. Taking an Epsom salt bath can be an effective and safe way for people to ease aches and pains…. It is normal to feel a heaviness or pressure on the vagina or pelvis during pregnancy. The common causes of vaginal or pelvic pressure are different…. Dehydration is more common during pregnancy than at other times. This is because the body has an increased demand for water.
Dehydration can be…. As a result, they share a placenta. The technical name for this is monochorionic. In a very small number of identical twins, splitting might happen even later. In this case, both twins share an inner sac , called the amnion, in addition to sharing a placenta.
The technical name for this is monoamniotic twins. For example, a twin who receives less blood from a shared placenta might weigh less at birth. Sharing a placenta means that twins share a blood supply during pregnancy. Sometimes the blood supply is shared unequally, which can cause health problems for both twins. Women who are pregnant with twins sharing a placenta need to be checked more often than women with twins with separate placentas.
Frequent checks can pick up early on any potential complications. Twins sharing an inner sac monoamniotic are also at a higher risk of complications during pregnancy because of the chance that their umbilical cords might tangle and cut off their blood supply. These twins are checked even more closely. Medical professionals often recommend that these twins are born earlier than other types of twins. Medical professionals use ultrasound to work out how many placentas twins have.
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