Multiple multiples?

[superbean]

Hi

Our boy/girl twins have just turned 2 and we are thinking about going for number 3. I'm a bit worried though that it could end up being 3 and 4, given that I read the chances of having another set of twins is 1 in 12 if they are naturally conceived.

Is this right? Does anyone on here have 2 sets of twins? If so how is it? I would like one more but I'm not sure I could live through another set of twins and 1 in 12 seems quite high risk to me....

this would depend on your:
age
race
history of being a fraternal twin yourself or in your family
parity (ie how many times you have been pregnant before)

on average you are about 5 times more likely to have a set of fraternal twins than a woman in the general population so about 20/1000 ie 1/50 assuming that you don't have any other predisposing factors and your next pregnancy was not assisted.

1/12 would be a high enough risk to put anyone off another child!!

I've read the 1 in 12 too, if you have genetic hyper ovulation.

^if you have genetic hyper ovulation^. which should be reflected in your family history.

We were in your situation two years ago - had one set of twins, were worried that next pregnancy might turn out to be twins again.

And then it was!

We now have boy twins aged 4 and girl twins aged 21 months.

It's a bit mad but manageable. If you do have multiples again, you've done it all before so will know what to do!

Shame on foolonthehill for saying risk of twins should put people off having children. Twins all the rage here!

My great grandmother had:

boy/girl twins (my grandmother)

girl

girl

boy/boy twins

I'm not sure of the age differences.

4under...sorry my comment was supposed to be tongue in cheek..not to be taken seriously, there are so many Dcs in this house that it would never occur to me that any statistic would put people off children although one does have to admit that it can be hard work...i had 5 under 5 at one point and did think I would never function as a normal human being again!

5 under 5! Respect to you fool!

there was another thread recently with someone expecting their 3rd? set of twins, they also had one singleton as well!

twins run in my family, my great gran had 3 sets, one identical, two non identical, so they scanned me very carefully but i just had one each time.

i thought your odds go up depending on family history, your age (older =more likely to have twins) your heights? taller means more likely to have twins?and how many times you have been pregnant. i have the family history but am short and had my children youngish (first at 20, last at 31) i do wonder if we ever dedice to try for another taht we may end up with twins! thing is i guess you just have to cope and if its your second set then you at least have the experience to go on?

good luck op :)

I have 2 sets, I had 5 kids in just over 4 years.

I had a boy then identical girls then non identical boys. Its hard work yes but its also great fun :-)

thanks everyone, respect to those of you with all those littlies! Good to know that it can be survived!