Can a twin have twins?

Yes, a twin can have twins, and it's more likely if they are a fraternal (dizygotic) twin or have a family history of fraternal twins, as there's a genetic tendency for women to release multiple eggs (hyperovulation). While identical (monozygotic) twins aren't usually genetic, identical twins born to a fraternal twin can still carry and pass on the "twin gene" for fraternal twinning, increasing their own chances.

What are the chances of a twin having twins?

Yes, a twin has a higher chance of having twins, especially fraternal (dizygotic) twins, because the tendency for "hyperovulation" (releasing multiple eggs) is genetic and passed down the maternal line, making a twin more predisposed to it, though identical twins have random chances. If you're a fraternal twin, your odds of having twins jump significantly (e.g., 1 in 60), while identical twins have the same chance as anyone else, about 1 in 285 pregnancies. 

What happens if a twin has a baby?

Yes. Identical twins' have the same DNA so it would be like one person having two children. The children will be genetically indistinguishable from half siblings*. If identical twins married identical twins, their offspring will be genetically indistinguishable from full siblings*.

Has twins ever had twins?

When a mother is a monozygotic twin, her risk of having twins of the same sex is significantly increased (1.47; 1.10 to 1.97). This is the result of an excess of monozygotic twins (39 pairs estimated, 18 expected). Conclusions: Women who are twins have an increased risk of giving birth to twins.

What is a daisy baby?

A "Daisy Baby" is a term for babies affected by Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS), a serious condition in identical twins sharing a placenta, or related complications like TAPS, SIUGR, and TRAP. The name comes from the Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome Foundation (TTTSF), symbolizing twins thriving like daisies after surviving the "storm" of the condition, with their logo often showing two daisies from one stem, representing the shared life and journey. 

How Twins are Made | Identical, Fraternal, and Others??

Which parent carries the twin gene?

For fraternal (dizygotic) twins, the genetic tendency for hyperovulation (releasing more than one egg) is often passed through the mother's side, meaning the pregnant parent's genes are key, but the father can carry and pass this trait to his daughters, increasing their future chances. For identical (monozygotic) twins, genetics play a minor role, as they usually occur randomly when one fertilized egg splits, though some rare genetic factors might influence the split.
 

Can one twin be still born?

Although single fetal death in the first trimester of twin pregnancy is not an uncommon event nor does it have serious consequences on the survival fetus, the death of one fetus in the second or third trimester of pregnancy is associated with a serious increase in morbidity and mortality for the surviving co-twin.

Can two sperm fertilize one egg?

Yes, two sperm can fertilize one egg, a rare event called polyspermy, which usually leads to an unviable embryo with three sets of chromosomes, often causing early miscarriage. However, in extremely rare cases, it results in semi-identical twins (sesquizygotic twins), where a single egg is fertilized by two sperm, creating offspring sharing all maternal DNA but only some paternal DNA, a unique form of chimerism.
 

Who carries the DNA for twins?

The genetic predisposition for twins only affects the mother (or pregnant partner). The other parent can pass down these genetic traits to their children. Still, they won't be more likely to have twins themselves unless the pregnant parent or surrogate also has a family history of twins.

What triggers twins?

Twins are caused by either one fertilized egg splitting (identical twins, same DNA) or two separate eggs being fertilized by two different sperm (fraternal twins, unique DNA), with fraternal twinning often linked to genetics (hyperovulation), maternal age (over 35), family history, and assisted reproduction, while identical twins are random but can be increased by ART.
 

Can a woman get pregnant while pregnant with twins?

Yes, you can get pregnant while already pregnant, a phenomenon called superfetation, but it's extremely rare, with only a handful of documented cases, even in twin pregnancies. It happens when a second egg is released and fertilized weeks after the first pregnancy has begun, with the babies developing at different stages in the same womb, leading to distinct sizes and due dates, says Healthline. 

What's the best age to conceive twins?

Age: If you're over the age of 35, you're more likely to release multiple eggs during ovulation. Family history: If your mother's side has a history of fraternal twins, there is a chance you could conceive twins naturally.

Which twin is older?

The twin born first is generally considered the older one in most cultures, but the second-born twin can technically be older due to time changes (like Daylight Saving) or, in some cultures, is considered the elder who prepared the way. For identical twins, it's usually the one born minutes earlier; for fraternal twins, it's the one conceived first, though this isn't always known.
 

Can you miscarry a twin?

Yes, you can absolutely miscarry one or both twins, with the loss of a single twin often called "Vanishing Twin Syndrome (VTS)" when it happens early, where one embryo stops developing and is reabsorbed, but a loss later in pregnancy (especially after 20 weeks) is a more serious complication requiring close monitoring. Twin pregnancies inherently carry a higher risk of miscarriage overall compared to singleton pregnancies, and losing a twin can happen at any stage, leading to grief for the loss of one baby while celebrating the survival of the other. 

Is twin a always born first?

Most often, fetuses known in utero as twin A are also first born and thus retain their label. However, this is not always the case, such that the twin A newborn was previously labeled twin B in utero and vice versa.

What's the longest twin can be born apart?

The longest interval between the birth of twins is 87 days, set by Irish twins Amy and Katie Jones-Elliott in 2012, where one twin was born prematurely and doctors delayed the second birth, allowing the second twin to develop much further in the womb, breaking a previous record by just a few days. 

Do twins share 100% the same DNA?

No, identical twins don't share exactly 100% DNA; they start with nearly identical DNA from one egg but develop small genetic mutations (point mutations) after splitting, plus differences in epigenetics (gene expression) due to environment, making each genome unique, though standard tests usually show them as identical. These tiny mutations, occurring after the embryo divides, create minor genetic variations that explain differences in traits or disease risk, say CNN. 

What causes an egg to split into twins?

An egg splits into identical twins when a single fertilized egg (zygote) spontaneously divides into two embryos early in development, creating genetically identical babies, though the exact trigger for this split remains a mystery, with theories involving cell repulsion, calcium levels, or epigenetic "signatures". This is different from fraternal twins, which happen when two separate eggs are fertilized by two different sperm.
 

Do twins happen because of mom or dad?

Twins come from both parents, but the type of twin (fraternal or identical) determines the genetic influence: fraternal twins are influenced by the mother's genetics (releasing two eggs), while identical twins are a random split of one egg, with no known hereditary link, though the father's genes are still present in both babies. A woman's family history of fraternal twins increases her chance, as some women have genes for releasing multiple eggs, a trait passed from the mother's side. 

What are momo twins?

Monoamniotic twins are identical twins that share an amniotic sac, the fluid-filled sac that holds the baby during pregnancy (also known as the “bag of waters”). Normally, identical twins each have their own amniotic sac. Monoamniotic twins are a rare type of “monochorionic” twins, meaning they also share a placenta.

Are twin pregnancies harder?

Yes, twin pregnancies are generally harder and considered higher risk, involving more intense symptoms (fatigue, nausea, swelling), increased physical strain, more frequent checkups, and higher risks for complications like pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, anemia, and preterm labor for the mother. Your body works harder to support two babies, leading to more significant physical changes and medical monitoring.