Chances of another multiple pregnancy?

[CountessSaberhagen]

Hi all,

After losing triplets early on (MMC), I've just been wondering if anyone knows if my odds of another multiple pregnancy have increased?

If it helps, I'm a twin and have identical twins on both sides of my family.

Thanks very much

Sorry for your loss

Short answer: given that you were able to conceive triplets - yes, your odds of another multiple pregnancy are most likely higher than for the average person (but it's not to do with your previous pregnancy, if that makes sense - the odds are the same right now as they were prior to that pregnancy)

Longer answer: identical twins are random chance; only non-identical twins run in families (the trait of releasing multiple eggs can be passed on). So if your family history is only identical twins, that won't affect your chances. But the probability that your previous pregnancy was 3-way identical triplets (i.e. pure random chance) is extremely low. Most triplets are either a pair of identical twins and a fraternal twin, but 3 fraternals is also more common than 3 identicals. So the likelihood is that you did release multiple eggs, in which case you could again. Statistically speaking, a singleton pregnancy is still more likely though.

Hope all of that made sense!

Most triplets are either a pair of identical twins and a fraternal twin, but 3 fraternals is also more common than 3 identicals

Sorry, that doesn't make sense! Meant that most triplets are either a pair of identicals and a fraternal or 3 fraternals - and 3 fraternals is more common than 3 identicals.

Just looked up the actual odds... Probability of conceiving any kind of triplets (without medical intervention) is 1 in 8,100. Probability of conceiving 3-way identical triplets specifically is 1 in 1,000,000!

Thank you @PowerslidePanda for your fab reply
I'd absolutely love another multiple pregnancy, so fingers crossed!

Are you a fraternal or identical twins? There’s no genetic tendency towards identical twins (at least not that they’ve found at this point) so they happen by chance.

So sorry for your loss. Unfortunately the risks of a multiple pregnancy are higher than singletons - we had a lot of issues and both twins have disabilities, we were very lucky that one survived at all, and we had the lowest risk type of twins. Unfortunately I know quite a few who had TTTTS where there was a shared placenta, and the outcomes weren’t good in some cases.

I have dizygotic twins (two eggs) so my chances of having multiples again is quite high - think when I looked before it was 1 in 10 but I might be remembering that incorrectly. And as you get older the likelihood of releasing multiple eggs increases (as one TV programme I watched puts it, a “going out of business sale” 😬). We have decided not to have any more, and the high chance of twins or more is one of the reasons - don’t think I could cope with it again and would be very concerned about the risks overall. If I could guarantee a singleton I would likely have another.

Crossing my fingers for a successful pregnancy for you

Sorry for your loss.

Are you a fraternal or identical twin? The genetic link is only for fraternal and it runs down the mothers side and is due to hyper ovulation. it has no bearing if their are twins on the other side of the family.

If you hyper ovulate the yes it's likely you will conceive multiples again.

Thank you all for your replies and good wishes, it's much appreciated.

I'm an identical twin, but I believe there's identical and fraternal on both sides of my family tree.

I'm sorry you had issues with your pregnancy @SinkGirl and I hope that things are okay now? Sending good wishes to you and your twins

I did read (can't remember where) that my odds may have become 1/12, but no idea if that's true!