IVF twins / ''natural'' twins are different - not something that run in families?

[twinsinthefam]

Hi All,

I will never explain this right but please let me try. I am not trying to insult anyone!!

With DC 1 I was pregnant with twins, I lost one of the twins around 10 weeks.

When trying to find out if it is something that runs in my family (fraternal, I know identical are chance) I started asking.

I couldn't find out if it is hereditary from my fathers side as I have never met him.

There are no twins on my mums side. But my aunt insisted it came from our side as she had been pregnant with twins and also lost one. But hers were IVF twins so two were implanted. I am 100% not saying her feelings were any less valid than mine or anything at all like that. And I dropped the subject with her. She's a nurse

I am purely thinking about this from my a biology point of view.

Am I correct in thinking that her twins do not prove the genetic/ hereditary link?

You're not wrong, there are a couple of genes that increase your chances of having twins. They influence your chances of releasing multiple eggs at ovulation or of the zygote splitting. But both of these things can happen in people who don't have this genetic predisposition.

Your aunt's twins don't sound like they were caused by either of these factors but because she had had 2 embryos implanted, so you're not wrong to think that doesn't really give you any clues about your own genes.

You could have the gene passed through your fathers line, it wouldn't increase his chances of having twins but he could pass on the propensity to become a mother of twins to you.

Ultimately you can't know for sure even, so I wouldn't upset your aunt and would just leave it with a "that's interesting" and move on.

Hyperovulation (releasing more than one egg at ovulation) is genetic.

IVF twins aren't the result of natural hyperovulation and so the subsequent children would not be genetically predisposed to hyperovulation or the result of hyperovulation either.

I'm sorry for your loss. You're not wrong at all - but I wonder, because you mention not wanting to invalidate her feelings, whether you got a sense from her that she somehow wanted to believe in a family 'connection' to her twin that she lost? I think she's misunderstood the biology, but I suspect she was trying to find some kind of common ground. Hard on both of you.

You are correct, but I wouldn't mention it again. IVF is because they put multiple embryos in, whereas natural twins can be hereditary.

Slightly concerned that she is a nurse and thinks that!

Her friend was pregnant with twins, she kept going on that maybe friend would have twins since her DH was a fraternal twin. I told her that's not how it work. That identical are random and that as good as he might be in the sack he can't make her ovulate twice!

That their DD may -may- be more likely to have fraternal twins as she will carry the gene.

Anyway I was shot down, and 'she was the nurse'. We were at a family thing and pretty much everyone told me to shut up and listen to the nurse.

You are correct but sometimes you know not to say anything. Sorry you lost a twin, I did too, similar stage but I didn’t know I was expecting twins, my midwife explained that it was highly likely

Yeah you hear all sorts of nonsense when twins are involved. DH’s gran had twins so was all happy when we had twins and talked about it running in the family. No. because it wouldn’t run though male line - plus we had ivf!

@gototogo I didn't press it. The time with her friend I was still in my v. early 20s and couldn't back down from a lost fight. In my 30s now and I do!!

Sorry it happed you too. I had, had several M.C.s so I knew for 2 weeks it was twins. I was very excited, nervous and scared. I was mostly relieved that I still had 1 baby but I am sometimes wonder a bit

@Bluegreenbird I can imagine!!