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Multiple births

When do you start showing with twins? What is life with twins like? Join the conversation on our Multiple Births forum.

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Original poster

My chances of twins - hereditary - friends scaring me!!!

32 replies

Mintymoomoo · 30/01/2014 12:43

So I'm 7 weeks pregnant, my partner is a identical twin and his twin also had identical twins!!

Now I know identical twins are not meant to be hereditary but I'm getting a little afraid! Already have a bulge (didn't show with last 3 pregnancies until 4-5 months) and this time feeling soooo soooo tired and sickish all day!

Sure my chances are nil but friends are scaring me a little, I'm also nearly 35

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meditrina · 30/01/2014 12:48

Well, if DP was a fraternal twin, it would be unrelated as double ovulation would have to be in your family tree.

As identical twins split after fertilisation, then logically it could come from either.

I don't know if it's been adequately researched though. IIRC frequency of twins does increase a bit with age, and is commoner in some ethnic groups.

GiniCooper · 30/01/2014 12:51

If you have read and know that there's no link for identical twins why are you worried.
It's not hereditary. If YOU had fraternal twins all over your own side of the family I'd be anxious.

NigellasDealer · 30/01/2014 12:52

i think it would have to be passed down thro your line, as it were. Also identical twins are not hereditary , apparently , (although what you say would appear to go against that) - it is fraternal twins that are; identical twins are more random.
you are more likely to have twins if you are overweight, older than 'average', African, or became pregnant as a result of ...er...extra active sex. If you are all of these, then bingo!

RudyMentary · 30/01/2014 12:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NigellasDealer · 30/01/2014 12:54

also, if your friends are 'scaring you' tell them google is their friend! there is so much nonsense bandied about on the twin subject!

Original poster

Mintymoomoo · 30/01/2014 13:17

Yeah I know they say identical are not hereditary but so many people seem to have only identical links in there family!

Good things going for me is I'm not overweight and I'm not African...... Lol

Yeah I think twins are lovely and a blessing first or second time around! This was a shock pregnancy and going from 3 stright to 5 is freighting x

OP posts:

Linguaphile · 30/01/2014 21:07

Well, there is actually new research which suggests it's possible a certain enzyme in some men's sperm could cause the fertilised egg to split. This could, theoretically, be a hereditary trait that is passed down much like the hyper-ovulation gene is passed down in women. Obviously there's a lot of testing to be done on that front, but I suppose anything is possible.

If you do have twins (which is still unlikely, I'd say), don't worry--they're a blast! Loads of joy which makes the work all worth it. :)

Mabelface · 30/01/2014 21:12

It could be worse, it could be triplets, like me.

Preciousbabies · 30/01/2014 21:24

I'm not so sure minty, I felt sick all day practically right from the start of my pregnancy and the tiredness was overbearing. Twins are fantastic. Hard work....bloody hard work but well worth it. Fingers crossed for u although I can see where u are coming from with 3 already. I was 39 when I got pregnant with my fraternal twins , absolutely no history in my family tree, wasn't overweight (am now!!) def not African. Put it down to my age. Was my first pregnancy. Good luck x x

neversleepagain · 30/01/2014 22:05

I am not African, not overweight, wasn't "older" (33) when I fell pregnant and it was my first pregnancy. I have fraternal twins.

Both my grandmothers had fraternal twins.

NigellasDealer · 30/01/2014 22:08

same here neversleepagain but you missed the fourth criteria!

neversleepagain · 30/01/2014 22:10

Nigella

steppemum · 30/01/2014 22:13

well, my grandmother had twins and triplets, and I am tall, overweight, had regular heavy periods, was older when I had my kids (40 with last) so had all the risk factors (except African)

I have 3 kids and no twins!

(no comment on the fourth criteria!)

gallicgirl · 30/01/2014 22:14

I know of 3 brothers whose wives have all had twins.

Original poster

Mintymoomoo · 30/01/2014 22:24

I'm pretty sure I'm just panicking because my friends are joking about it!!!!

I just can never remember feeling this tired and poo (not exactly sick just yucky) all the time, and surely if I was going to be this tired it would of been in my last pregnancies seeing as I had 3 children in 3 and a half years! Maybe this one is a boy and that's what's wiping me, amazing when I had my 3 girls!

The weekend before I found out I was pregnant I slept for the whole weekend.... Seriously was only up for 4 hours between 10-2 on the sat and Sunday rest of time was asleep from 9pm on fri until I got up for work at 7am on Monday!

Maybe my tummy is just due to my over eating have found I need to nibble all day to help with the sick/yucky feeling.

On well got booking in with midwife at 9 weeks then scan soon after so guess I will know one way or another, so need to just put it out of my mind and figure out what chores I can avoid to fit in more sleeping

OP posts:

AdoraBell · 30/01/2014 22:28

I read something that pointed out that his sperm cannot dictate either How many eggs you release, or whether Those eggs will divide once fertilized. This was 12 yrs ago when I was pregnant, so may be proved wrong.

My twins are the first in either family, btw. I was margianally over weight, GP wasn't concerned though, and 33, but Failed on the other Two criteria.

SIL who was the same age as me when she bécame pregnant had a single DC. only difference is she was under weight.

slightlyinsane · 31/01/2014 16:06

Hi, I'm sure twins will be wonderful when I've finished sailing down denial. I am on my 4th pregnancy and 34 just like you, my friends also joked about twins. This has been my worst pregnancy so far, I've never had ms before or felt as tired as I have this time. I'm 20 wks with id twins. As previous people have said id twins are a random occurance and my consultant thinks the current % is 0.5 of all births is I'd twins, however she did go on to say for some reason they are over run in the twin clinic at mo.

If you are worried I would ask your mw at your booking in apt to have a feel of your belly if you feel larger than you think you should. If it's twins your uterus may haveppopped up by then.

Oh and the thought of going from 3 to 5 in one go freaks me out regularly.

Innogen · 23/02/2014 23:02

Have you found out yet? Just come across the thread, being very likely to have twins myself (both of my parents are twins, as is DP!).

Hate a cliffhanger!

Mandy21 · 24/02/2014 14:03

I'm a fraternal twin, and I had fraternal twins.

Felt 10 times worse in my non-twin pregnancy than my twin pregnancy.

canyourearme · 24/02/2014 15:56

I felt crap in my fourt pregnancy , not twins but was a boy, had gurls before.

Original poster

Mintymoomoo · 28/02/2014 22:19

Innogen nope scan booked for 11th march, midwife at my booking in soooo ment was useless, told her last period was 14th dec and she wanted to put my EDD as 20th October, told her I bloody hope not lol

I am huge though already having to wear a hairband on my jeans as can no longer do them up and I'm only 11 weeks tomorrow! With previous pregnancies I was on my own jeans until well past 20 weeks, with my second I never came out of them!

I keep feeling my tummy and utrus seems to be by belly button but just can't remember is this is normal for 11 weeks or not, maybe my muscles are just shot being my 4th pregnsncy!

Canyourearme, I'm begining to think maybe this is just a boy and that why I'm finding my pregnancies do different to the girls

OP posts:

WaitMonkey · 08/03/2014 16:55

Marking my place, because I need to know.

Cuxibamba · 08/03/2014 17:01

I need to know your result! My mother was a fraternal twin, my two uncles were also fraternal twins, I am a fraternal twin and my DS2 and 3 are fraternal twins.

lljkk · 08/03/2014 17:17

Hospital got very excited when I explained I am closely related to 3 sets of ID twins; seems there may be a hereditary component to it.

In last 50 yrs the only twins were fraternal born to my 1st cousin (half niece of one of the ID twins). But they WERE born on the same day as their great uncles (+70 yrs). Beat that.

KatharineClover · 09/03/2014 08:38

Hi mintymoomoo! I think I must be at a similar stage to you - eddy is currently 17th Sept.
My scan is tomorrow at 13 weeks - I am 35, tall and have fraternal twins in my family (I'm a twin - my mum had 3 sets of twin pregnancies, and many mcs, but only has 2 children: my sister and I are from different pregnancies). I've got quite a bump, can feel kicks already (although I have one DS already), and I've put on 7lbs (I lost 3, put on 10 so overall gain of 7 which sounds better than saying I've put on 10!). Because of family history I'm so nervous about tomorrow - obviously any amount of healthy babies is a blessing, but because of what my mum went through I know I would feel huge stress and anxiety for the whole pregnancy and birth if it is twins ...

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