Frequently Asked Questions about Twins, Triplets and More.
How long does a twin pregnancy last?
37 weeks is considered ‘full term’ for twins. Some twins are born prematurely - before 37 weeks. Some twin pregnancies progress through to 38,39 or even 40+ weeks.
Will I have to have a caesarean section with twins?
Not necessarily, how you birth your twins depends on a number of factors. If you and your twins are generally healthy, and they are not lying awkwardly in your uterus, and if there are no other problems you may be able to give birth vaginally. If your babies are identical you may be asked to have a caesarean. If you have strong feelings about how you birth your twins, contact your ante-natal clinic or speak to your consultant about it.
Can I have twins myself if I don’t have twins anywhere in my family?
Absolutely! There are a number of things that increase your chances of having twins including age, race and whether you have had IVF or other fertility treatments.
I am an identical twin, does this mean that I will have twins myself?
As an identical twin you have a similar chance of having twins yourself as everyone else who isn’t an identical twin.
If you or any family member is a non-identical twin, this can increase your chances of having non-identical twins. This is because some women produce more than one egg per menstrual cycle, and thus increasing their chances of having non-identical twins. Some mothers egg’s are also slightly easier to penetrate.
I am confused about some of the ‘big words’ the doctor used at the clinic. Help!
This is fairly common, and baffling to those who are new to having twins.
Here is an explanation of some of the terms you might here at the clinic.
Monozygotic twins
This is what most people refer to as ‘identical twins’. It means that your twins were originally one fertilized egg that later split into two. Sometimes you will see people referring to their twins as MZ - this is just an abbreviation for Monozygotic.
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Page Last Updated
February 05, 2010
Disclaimer:- Twinsonline is here as a guide only - anything you do you do at your own risk
If you have a health concern please go see the relevant member of your health team (GP, Health Visitor, Midwife, Obstetrician)
