When twins are born, the physician is usually able to identify whether twins are identical or
fraternal by examining the placenta
; identical twins generally share a placenta, while fraternal twins are usually in two separate placentas.
Is twin A or twin B conceived first?
However, antenatally twins are labeled as A or B according to their location relative to the birth canal. Antenatal labeling is usually established by prenatal ultrasound. Most often, fetuses known in utero
as twin A are also first born
and thus retain their label.
Which twin is delivered first?
Once the cervix is open, each baby will have its own pushing stage. This means you will have to push twice, but the majority of the time the second twin is born much more easily than the first. This is because
the first twin has paved the way
, so to speak.
Can you tell fraternal twins ultrasound?
However, when a twin pregnancy is evaluated by ultrasound,
it's impossible to tell directly whether the twins are identical or fraternal
. That determination must be inferred by looking at two things — the sex of the fetuses and the number of placentas and sacs present.
How can you tell if twins are identical or fraternal?
The best way to determine if twins are identical or fraternal is
by examining each child's DNA
. Occasionally a family is told that their twins are fraternal based on placenta findings, when they are in fact identical.
What month are the most twins born?
Twins are more likely to be born early, often
before 38 weeks
, so it's important to understand your birth options. Less than half of all twin pregnancies last beyond 37 weeks.
What are twins born on different days called?
It's also possible to have twins that were conceived at different times in a process called
superfetation
. In exceedingly rare cases, a woman might release two eggs during ovulation, but not at the same time. In such cases, twins may actually be born on different days.
Which parent carries the gene for twins?
This is why fraternal twins run in families. However, only women ovulate. So,
the mother's genes control this
and the fathers don't. This is why having a background of twins in the family matters only if it is on the mother's side.
Is twin pregnancy more painful?
With a twin pregnancy,
your body makes high levels of pregnancy hormones
. So morning sickness may come on earlier and stronger than if you were carrying a single baby. You may also have earlier and more intense symptoms from pregnancy, like swelling, heartburn, leg cramps, bladder discomfort, and sleep problems.
How do I know am carrying twins?
Ultrasound
. Although the factors above may be signs of a twin pregnancy, the only sure way to know you're pregnant with more than one baby is through an ultrasound. Some doctors schedule an early ultrasound, around 6 to 10 weeks, to confirm the pregnancy or check for issues.
What gender is most common in identical twins?
- Boy-girl twins are the most common kind of dizygotic twins, occurring 50% of the time.
- Girl-girl twins are the second most common occurrence.
- Boy-boy twins are the least common.
What is the rarest type of twins?
This is the rarest type of twin, and it means a riskier pregnancy as the babies can get tangled in their own umbilical cords.
Can twins be conceived on different days?
Although two fetuses develop simultaneously
in superfetation
, they differ in maturity, having been conceived days or even weeks apart. Superfetation is observed in animal reproduction, but it is exceedingly rare in humans. Only a few cases are documented in medical literature.
What is the luckiest birth month?
Some studies say that the babies with the lowest birth weight are born in
May
— chalk it up to the lower amounts of vitamin D in the womb during a winter pregnancy. A study done in the U.K. showed that May is the luckiest month to be born, and October is the unluckiest.
What is the rarest birth month?
According to the CDC,
February
is the least common birth month. That's also logical, seeing as nine months prior is May which marks longer, sunnier days, warmer temperatures and usually more outside activity.
What birth month lives the longest?
Month of birth influences adult life expectancy at ages 50+. Why? In two countries of the Northern Hemisphere–Austria and Denmark–people born in autumn (
October–December
) live longer than those born in spring (April–June). Data for Australia show that, in the Southern Hemisphere, the pattern is shifted by half a year.
