how likely are twins?

[fireflyz]

My cousin (daughter of my dad's uncle) has had twins. I was wondering how likely it is for me to have twins too!
I suppose it depends if there are any twins on my husband's side - I don't think there are - and as far as I know there are no other twins in my parent's family.
Would be interested to know what people think.

Your husbands side would have no bearing in it.
From what you say I don't think your odds are increased at all.

There is thought to be a genetic link for non-identical twins. Identical twins are just a random embryo mutation that can happen to anyone.

twins pass down the mothers side as far as I know, so I don't think your cousin having twins makes it any more likely that you will.

Yes - it's only the mother's side of the family that can influence it as non-id twins result from the ovaries ovulating more than one egg at time so the male partner's family history would have no influence.

Apparently, age makes a difference. The older you are, the more likely you are to have twins (non identical) because your body starts chucking out two eggs at a time.

Obviously that was meant to say that it CAN start releasing two eggs. It's more likely but not a given! Twins are still very rare.

I've often wondered about this aswell because:

My DP's grandad is a twin and he had un-identical twins (dp's aunt & uncle).

My mothers aunts where twins and one twin went to onto have triplets, who would be my mums cousins!

it passes down the mothers side, my great grandma had 3 sets of twins it was written on my notes and they checked me carefully at the dating scan each time but no twins!

i think generlaly the odds are one in 70 pregnancies, but its higher if you have a family history on the maternal side and also for older women and if you are taller.

Yes, non-identical passes down mother's side as it is to do with egg release. Identical are random. Though no twins ever in my family - and I had them! They are more common in very young and older women. I had twins at 36.

my great gran had 2 sets of non identical and one set of identical twins!