Pregnancy guide > Your baby in pregnancy > Pregnancy health > Twins or more

Twins or more

Useful information on when women more likely to have twins, triplets or multiples with advice on multiple pregnancy and birth.

Twins

The average length of pregnancy is 36 weeks for twins and 33-34 weeks for triplets.
Identical twins are formed from a single egg which splits after fertilisation.
Non-identical (fraternal) twins are formed from two fertilised eggs. The only sure-fire way to know if yours are identical or fraternal (apart from them being boy/girl twins) is from a DNA test.
Twins are on the increase: older mothers and fertility treatment increase the likelihood of a double hit!
Nigerian women have the highest rate of twinning in the world.
Even identical twins don't share identical fingerprints. Each of your children is truly unique.

If you wait to have children until you're in your 30s or beyond, you face a greater chance than younger women of having twins or more. As you age, you naturally produce more ovulation-stimulating hormones, which could trigger your ovaries to release several eggs each month.

Larger, taller women are 25 to 30 percent more likely to have twins. Heredity is an important factor too. Non-identical twins tend to run in families, usually on the mother's side, but not always. If twins run in your mother's family, you're more likely to have a set yourself, but identical twins do not tend to run in families.

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My sister is now 36 and a half weeks pregnant with identical twin boys were expecting them to arrive very soon if not she will be induced on Monday she has had a lovely pregnancy and is ready to do it again already so its not all bad guys !!!! Good luck XXX (from one very excited soon to be aunt)
by staceytwins	17th Jan 2011, 3:26pm

Hi. I'm 34 and 18 weeks with non-identical twins (1st pregnancy) and have had to take today off work as I'm suffering from back, leg & groin pains! Couldn't walk yesterday! Midwife says it is sciatica or could be pelvic girdle pain. Not much can be done unfortunately. I've had a massive growth spurt over the weekend and really feeling pregnant now. Luckily the bleeds, sickness, headaches, starvation and exhaustion has subsided for over a month now!!!! I'm usually so healthy! First day off work in years!

Can't wait to see the tubs next week at the scan. They looked so beautiful last time, although one was upside down and squashed in, whilst the other was having a lovely stretch!!!!! I hope they both have a share of the space!!!
We're due in February and good luck to you all out there!!!

by Twintub

15th Sep 2010, 9:23am

Hi I have ten month old twins and a 3 year old. Yes it is normal to beed when you are having twins. If this is your first pregnancy it may be a little frightening. I was in and out of hospital when i was pregnant with mine. I bled at 18 weeks, fainted and hit my head 19 weeks and i had pelvis problems and i couldnt walk so i got induced at 36 weeks.
by kezjubb	7th Sep 2010, 8:56am

Hi i am 22 years old and i am 5 weeks preqo with identical twins i've been to the emerqency room twice already for bleedinq plz tell me this is normal i don't wanna lose my babies beinq preqo is so new to me plz help me
by qiqi	12th Aug 2010, 9:04am

Hi. I'm 35 and currently trying for my first baby. My mother is a non-identical twin and i too was a twin. Unfortunately my twin was still born. What are the chances that i will also have twins?
by sh4r0n	18th May 2010, 5:28pm

I am currently 8 weeks pregnant with twins. I already have two sons whom are going to be 7 & 4 this summer. I am not due until Nov. 2010 but I am scared out of my mind. I'm excited to be pregnant again but unsure of how this twin thing goes. I do my research on a regular basis. Twins do not run in my family at all. They do run in his family, but research has proven that it has nothing to do with the mans family since it takes a woman to ovulate & release more than one egg or for her one egg to split in two. I'm a server/bartender and was informed by my perinatologist that I would not be able to work nearly as much during my third trimester. I understand why but would like to continue working until I cannot work anymore. I would love to hear from other moms of twins or moms to be of twins for some advice.

by momma2bagain

14th May 2010, 5:24pm

I am now 35 weeks with twins and its hard work doing anything these days. I am seeing the consultant in 2 more days to find out if i am having csection or not and when. twin 1 has been breech all along and it all depends on her position. Has anyone known of the lower twin turning so late on in pregnancy x
by alishagrips	3rd Feb 2010, 9:48am

Hi. I am 27 years old. I have to healthy sons. This is my third pregnancy and The giny told me yesterday I am pregnant with non identical twins! One are almost 6cm but the other one are very small, about halve the size, but both have heartbeats, wich give me hope. I had two sonars on 5 & 6 weeks, with only one baby showing. Have anybody else had this experianse and both babies servived? Im going for my next sonar in 10 days time.

by Ronelle777

18th May 2009, 9:32am

Hi, I'm new to the site!! Pregnancy is not going to be an easy affair!! Got here via twelve years of looking at different options then discovered that it would need to be IVF. This considered, the necessary action was taken and amazingly, conception first time!!! Found out at my first scan on 23rd March that it's twins!! Amazing and we're truly delighted. However, there are still complications. I suffer with Type 1 Diabetes and many of it's side effects so we have been warned that this will be a high risk pregnancy...true to form I ended up in hopital two days after the first scan having suffered a bleed. I have been in hospital for the last 8 days and suffered two further bleeds...they released me today after four full clear days. I am very nervous about being home, although better than hospital as we are currently living in germany and my knowledge of the language is limited!! I am really looking for advice on how to proceed - other than the obvious "PLENTY OF REST". Be reat to hear from you

by mandalex

3rd Apr 2009, 9:08am

hi i just wanted to know im trying to have a baby with my boyfrind twins run in his family but not mine his older brother has had twins and his sister has had twins is it going to be possible for us to have twins??? if so what would the chances be???
by yummymummy23	2nd Mar 2009, 9:17am

I have just found out I am having twins!! It was a shock, but twins do run in my dads family. My twins are not identical.. I am nearly 11 weeks.. I already have 2 children both girls. One is 4 and the other is 11 months. would love to talk to other mothers of twins :D
by michellemoonlight	30th Jan 2009, 9:00am

Hi, i love twins and always pray to God to bless me with twins , i just love them.
by keysha	5th Jan 2009, 9:13am

Hi, i am now 32 weeks pregnant with identical twin boys. Due on Jan 5th '09. I have been having loads of belly tightenings lately, accompanied with lower back pains. I am starting to think i will not last much longer? I am getting booked in on my 36th week for a c-section. At the early stages of pregnancy i was very ill all the time, feeling sick (but not actually throwing up), feeling faint, and i really went off eating any kind of food. Then after about my 14th week i felt great. I now eat like a horse but have major problems getting about now! I never thought i would get so big!!! Both heads have been engaged for the last 3 weeks now, but thank god, we are ready for them and are just really excited now.

by emilyandtwins

14th Nov 2008, 9:19am

Hi im 24 weeks preg with identical twin boys and thinking of names!! its my first pregnancy so am very excited and nervous also. im due the 7th march 09. good luck everyone xx
by ladytara	10th Nov 2008, 9:46am

Hi i'm just over 25 weeks pregnant with twins, i have found out that i'm having a boy n a girl! With having two boys already i'm excited about having another and a daughter that i have been so longing for and never thought i'd have!!
Twins run in my husbands family n skipped a generation and that there are a number of twins on myown side! So it was bound to happen although we didn't know this till i was pregnant!!
At the beginning i was really ill, n always hungry! the sickness does subside but the hunger seems to increase so my advice is to take a wee snack with u in your handbag if hunger strikes when your out and about!! xx

by TanyaQ

28th Oct 2008, 9:18am

Hello, Im 9 weeks and just found out im having twins, my first pregnancy...any tips?
by tutugx	22nd Sep 2008, 9:00am

Hi there im 18 wks pregnant with twins, also due Jan 09 and im soooo excited but nervous at the same time x x x
by Chelley30	27th Aug 2008, 9:22am

Hi, I am 13 weeks with identical twins, due first week in February 09. Shocked to find out I'm having twins, also worried at the same time because of possible complications that can arise
by myf1981	5th Aug 2008, 9:05am

Hi I'm 14 weeks pregnant with twins due in Jan 09. Anyone out there I can share some thoughts and feelings with?
by ru	4th Aug 2008, 9:22am

I had bleeding very early on but stopped after a couple of days. I am now 34 weeks with non indentical boys - any one out there due for delivery in August with twins???
by Eled	22nd Jul 2008, 5:12pm

Hello, I am 8 weeks pregnant with twins, but I have been experiencing some vaginal bleeding, the doctors did bloodwork on me and I had a sonogram this is when I found out I was having twins. I am nervous though because I am still bleeding off and on. Has this happened 2 anyone before? I have 2 older sons & this has never happened 2 me before.
by MzGibbs31	25th Jun 2008, 8:45am

I'm a twin myself and would love to have twins. I wish there was a way to increase you're chances of having twinnies!
by LyndsA	16th Jun 2008, 8:34am

hi im 24 weeks pregnant with twin boys and the doctor told me that they were identical, which they found out by my morphology scan at 18 weeks. He said that they were identical because they looked to be in the same placenta and that he was 99% sure they were boys. my hubby and i are thrilled but i dont want to get my hopes up. can you give me some advice. thrilled and confused
by chica	6th Dec 2007, 9:17am

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