You’re pregnant and sitting there wondering, “Am I carrying more than one baby?” You suddenly feel queasy, unable to imagine the possibility of twins. Then, a momentary rush of excitement: “Am I having twins? Oh my gosh!”
Couples typically don’t think much about twins, just as they don’t think about blue cheese. However, if there’s the slightest suspicion that they could be having twins, they begin to wonder about the odds. Soon, they find themselves asking their physician if indeed it is a twin pregnancy.
Thanks to advances in modern science and the millions of twins born to families worldwide, there is reliable information available, not to mention tests. There are also fun quizzes and questionnaires online that can give you a rough idea of whether you’re carrying more than one fetus. However, we strongly recommend obtaining a diagnosis from your obstetrician or GP. Quizzes are entertaining, but as we learned in grade school, they don’t always “make the grade” (no pun intended).
Are the Odds in Your Favor?
Here are a few factors to consider when weighing the likelihood of giving birth to twins:
- Family history: If you, your mother, and your grandmother are fraternal twins, the chances are higher that you could be carrying twins yourself. However, keep in mind that “chances are higher” doesn’t mean you *will* give birth to twins.
- Use of fertility drugs: Research suggests that if you’re taking fertility drugs or undergoing fertility treatments, there is a 1 in 38 chance of having twins. If you’re taking the drug Clomid, the odds rise to 1 in 5!
- Your age: If you’re 45 or older, there’s a strong likelihood that twins may be in your future. Studies show that 17% of women in this age group give birth to twins.
- You already have fraternal twins: If you’ve previously given birth to fraternal twins, chances are higher that you may have more.
- Ethnicity: While it’s not conclusive, some reports suggest that women of Nigerian descent have higher chances of having twins. Nigeria has the world’s highest rate of twins and multiples in proportion to its population. In contrast, Asians and Hispanics have a lower incidence of twin or multiple pregnancies.
- Height and weight: Research indicates that taller and heavier women may be more likely to have twins compared to their shorter and slimmer counterparts.
While these factors provide some insight, take them with a grain of salt. The information suggests that being overweight and tall might increase your chances of carrying twins, but it’s far from definitive.
Odds of Having Twins: Find Out Using Tested Methods
Don’t waste your time visiting a palm reader or Tarot card reader if you want to know whether you have twins on the way. Of course, if you want to have a laugh and do it for fun, feel free to make an appointment with your reader.
But if your family is eagerly awaiting the news and wants to know whether they’ll be welcoming twins, there are medical tests you can undergo. Here are some of them:
- Ultrasound: An ultrasound can show images of the fetus and reveal if there is more than one fetus in the womb.
- Constant fatigue and unusual morning sickness: If you’re feeling more tired than usual (which can be common during pregnancy) or experiencing excessive morning sickness, these could be signs of a twin pregnancy.
- AFP test: The AFP test, or maternal serum screening, is conducted between the 15th and 20th week of pregnancy. It’s typically used to detect abnormalities in the fetus, such as spina bifida or Down’s syndrome. However, it can also indicate the presence of twins.
- Measurement of the uterine fundus: This measurement, performed during the third trimester, tracks the height of the uterus. If the pregnancy is 33 weeks along, the measurement should be approximately 33 centimeters, with a slight variation of up to two centimeters.
- Doppler heartbeat: Each human typically has one heartbeat, but if you’re carrying twins, an experienced doctor can usually detect multiple heartbeats.
- Early movement detection: If you feel fetal movement earlier than expected, it could be a sign that you’re carrying twins.
- Extraordinary weight gain: While unusual weight gain isn’t a definitive sign of twins, it could be a contributing factor.
Online Questionnaires
Many people enjoy taking online questionnaires because they provide instant results. If you’re pregnant and wondering whether you’re carrying twins, you might find some online quizzes fun. However, we need to emphasize that these quizzes are only rough indicators of a twin pregnancy and should never replace a consultation with your physician or obstetrician.
Online questionnaires related to twin pregnancies might ask questions such as:
- How early did you feel the baby’s movements?
- Do you have a family history of twins or multiples?
- Have you undergone fertility treatments or taken fertility drugs?
- What is your age?
- What is your typical diet?
- Have you gained a significant amount of weight?
- Were your previous pregnancies twin pregnancies?
- Were you overweight before getting pregnant?
- What is your current energy level?
- What were the results of your ultrasound, AFP, and Doppler tests?
- Did you become pregnant while breastfeeding?
- Were you taking birth control pills?
Based on your answers, the questionnaire will give you an indication of whether you could be expecting twins! However, always remember that a professional diagnosis is the only way to be certain.
