Will I have twins?

I see a lot of people wondering whether they will have twins, because twins run in their family. I'd like to clear up a few misconceptions about how exactly it works.

First of all, there are two different types of twins- identical and fraternal.

Identical twins occur when one egg and one sperm splits shortly after conception to make two genetically-identical babies.

Fraternal twins occur when two (or more) eggs are released by the mother, and two eggs get fertilized by two sperm. These two babies are no more genetically alike than any other sibling, they just happen to be conceived and born at approximately the same time.

Identical twins are completely random and non-hereditary. Having them occur in your family does not affect your chances of having them in any way.

Fraternal twins, however, can be a random occurrence; but can also be the result of hyper-ovulating (when the mother releases more than one egg in a cycle), and this can be a hereditary trait. It can be passed from the mother to the children. The girls can inherit it and have their own sets of multiples, and the boys obviously can not ovulate, but can inherit the genes and pass them on to their own daughters, who can then hyper-ovulate and have multiples.

If there are twins on your SO's side, this will not affect your chances of having twins. Your SO can not cause you to hyper-ovulate with his super sperm. He can, however, pass on the genetic trait to your children.

A few more examples:

If your mother (or her mother, etc.) hyper-ovulates, you may hyper-ovulate.

If your father's mother hyper-ovulates, she may pass the genes to him, and he may pass them to you, and you may hyper-ovulate.

So, if your father's sister hyper-ovulates, he could possibly have that trait in his genetic makeup and pass it to you. However, if your father's brother's wife hyper-ovulates, it has nothing to do with your father's brother (comes from the wife's side), and will not affect you.

Any questions?

Haha @ super sperm.

You are so right.!

Good post!

Also there are natural ways to try to make yourself hyper ovulate...

Breastfeeding while ttc
Taking extra folic acid
Having a BMI higher than 30
Eating wild yams (?)

 Lol I saw this in my sidebar and chalked it up to something similar to "am I pregnate?"   
Shoulda known it was you.

ps:
jm is that way    

lol @ father's brother's wife

My cousin's aunt (dad side) had two sets of fraternal twins, but my cousin had a set of identical girls....so how did this happen?

thanks for posting this! it gets old explaining it everytime somebody asks...this should be a sticky

Quoting Punk Rock Princess {EBFB}:“ Also there are natural ways to try to make yourself hyper ovulate... Breastfeeding while ttc Taking extra folic acid Having a BMI higher than 30 Eating wild yams (?)”

and a unnaturalway, extend BC use.

My doctor said for me to avoid twins I need to wait 3 cycles or so when i stop my BC pills.



I get really annoyed when girls are like "omgz my baby daddy was twins on hs side too!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

Quoting Punk Rock Princess {EBFB}:“ Also there are natural ways to try to make yourself hyper ovulate... Breastfeeding while ttc Taking extra folic acid Having a BMI higher than 30 Eating wild yams (?)”

i didnt know that!! thank god there's only one in me!!!!!!!!!!

Quoting ~Lady-rican~:“ My cousin's aunt (dad side) had two sets of fraternal twins, but my cousin had a set of identical girls....so how did this happen?”

because your cousins aunts mother has a genitic quirck that was passed to your cousons aunt that made her hyperovulate and your cousin had a fluke happen and her egg spit

i hate when people are ignorant to the whole "twinning thing" and when i give info thier like "thats not what i was told." well i researched and have facts not word of mouth

Quoting amanda_mommy:“ because your cousins aunts mother has a genitic quirck that was passed to your cousons aunt that made her hyperovulate and your cousin had a fluke happen and her egg spit”

oh ok i see  

Quoting amanda_mommy:“ i hate when people are ignorant to the whole "twinning thing" and when i give info thier like "thats not what i was told." well i researched and have facts not word of mouth”

LOL

I can't stand the whole "my boyfriend has twins in his family"

its like AND? lol