How are fraternal twins formed?

Twins – that’s what the statistics say about probability

The Hellin rule gives you information about the frequency of multiple pregnancies. According to this, twins are born in one in 85 births. That means a probability of 1.2 percent. That doesn’t sound like much at first, but compared to triplets or quadruplets the percentage is quite high. Only one in 7,000 pregnancies have three children in their womb. The chance of quadruplets is only 1:600,000.

So much for the theory of the Hellin rule. In reality, statistically speaking, every 28th pregnancy is now a multiple pregnancy. This is partly due to the increased average age of first-time mothers. As you age, your body produces more ovulation-triggering hormones. As a result, more eggs ready for fertilization enter the fallopian tubes at once. Above all, however, the increasing number of fertility treatments, such as artificial insemination or hormone treatment, is responsible for the increase in multiple pregnancies.

Twins make up the largest proportion of multiple births. Most often, fraternal twins are born. Only a third of twin pregnancies are identical twins. By the way, if there were twin births in your mother ‘s family, the probability that you yourself will become pregnant with twins increases fivefold. There is also an inheritance of multiple pregnancies.

Fraternal twins – the origin

Fraternal twins are formed when there are two mature eggs in the fallopian tube and each is fertilized by a sperm cell. In contrast, identical twins are created from just one egg cell fertilized by a sperm cell. This then divides after fertilization.

After fertilization, both eggs migrate to your uterus and nest there in different places. Thus, each of the fraternal twins has its own amniotic sac and is supplied with its own placenta.

While identical twins have identical genetic makeup, fraternal twins do not. Basically, they are simply siblings that are conceived and born at the same time. They have different genetic material and therefore – in contrast to identical twins – do not necessarily look alike. Since two egg cells were fertilized, the children can also have different sexes. In the case of fraternal twins, you can give birth to a boy and a girl – or two boys or two girls.

Twin pregnancy – double the happiness and double the troubles

If you find out that you are pregnant with twins, you should be prepared for this fact. Pregnancy is a beautiful thing. However, unsightly symptoms can also occur in the individual phases.

• Many pregnant women suffer from nausea, especially in the first trimester. Pregnancy hormones are responsible for this. When you are pregnant with twins, your body produces more of it. It is therefore possible that you are struggling with nausea during this phase.
• You may be storing more water in the second trimester of pregnancy. This is because your body releases more of the hormone progesterone during this time – and unfortunately this hormone causes water retention.
• The bigger the children get in your belly, the tighter it gets. Your stomach bulges forward. Especially towards the end of pregnancy, the twins take up so much space that you can sometimes find it difficult to breathe.
• The weight you carry towards the end of a twin pregnancy puts strain on your back. Many pregnant women complain of back pain. The problem is compounded in twin pregnancies.
• In your stomach it becomes quite lively to walk. On the one hand, this is due to the limited space available for your twins. There is a little more kicking and boxing. In addition, the siblings do not necessarily have the same sleeping rhythm. If one of the babies is sleeping, the other can still be awake.

This is how you prepare for the twins

During pregnancy, your doctor will examine you more frequently. Twin pregnancies are always considered high-risk pregnancies. However, since fraternal twins each have their own placenta and escape bladder, these pregnancies are usually unproblematic. Nevertheless, the risk of preterm birth is higher than with a singleton pregnancy. Preeclampsia, also known as EPH gestosis , can become a problem for the mother-to-be.

You should take care of the furnishing of the children’s room and the initial equipment at an early stage. As the twin pregnancy progresses, these things will become more difficult for you. Since equipment for two babies can be expensive, it may be worth checking with manufacturers. Some companies donate baby food or diapers for twins for marketing reasons.

But you don’t necessarily have to buy new baby clothes or beds. Ask your relatives or friends if they no longer need such things and give them away.

Caring for two young children can be a challenge. But you shouldn’t panic. Find out if there is a twin parent group in your area. There you will get valuable tips and support. You should also take care of a midwife in good time who can accompany and support you in the initial period after the birth.