How to get pregnant with twins: questions and answers to clear all your doubts

Just as many couples say they want to have a boy or a girl, some say they want to have twins – which, of course, is a wonderful, albeit challenging, lifelong experience!

But is it really possible to “choose to have twins”? Are there measures that actually increase the chances of having a twin pregnancy? You may have heard, for example, that a woman who has twins in her family is more likely to have a twin pregnancy. What, then, are the other factors that can be proven to help?

The first point is to understand how twin pregnancy happens. Domingos Mantelli (CRM-SP: 107.997), a gynecologist and obstetrician, explains that it occurs when there is double ovulation, which can occur for two reasons: “when the woman undergoes a process of stimulating ovulation, by administering hormones (through injections or by mouth), she can ovulate more than once in the same month, which increases the chances of having more than one fertilization; and in vitro fertilization, because in general more than one embryo is implanted, with the aim of increasing the chances of success of the procedure”, he says.

Luiz Fernando Leite, obstetrician at Hospital e Maternidade Santa Joana, comments that there are two different types of twin pregnancies and each one happens in a different way. “In the case of fraternal twins, or non-identical twins, two eggs are fertilized by two different sperm. In an identical pregnancy, the fertilization of an egg by a sperm occurs and, during the initial, embryonic phase, the duplication of the embryo takes place – this in spontaneous pregnancy”, he explains.

Below you will clarify your main doubts about the chances of having a twin pregnancy and check the factors that have been proven to help in this regard.

Doubts, myths and truths about twin pregnancy

Can consuming certain foods increase a woman’s chances of having twins? In the second pregnancy, is the mother more likely to have a twin pregnancy? These are just some of the questions that couples hoping to have twins may face.

1. What foods can a person eat to increase the chances of getting pregnant with twins?

Mantelli points out that there is no evidence of any food that increases the chances of getting pregnant with twins, since, to get pregnant with multiple babies, you need a heredity (which may not occur with that woman), predisposition due to the number of eggs in the month or fertilization.

2. Does taking ovulatory stimulants like Clomid increase the chances of having twins?

Leite responds that with the ingestion of ovulation stimulators or inducers, the chance of ovulating more than one egg increases. Thus increasing the chances of a pregnancy of fraternal twins.

Ovulation stimulants, however, should only be taken after medical advice, says Mantelli, as the drug has the function of helping women in cases of little or no ovulation in the fertile period, to increase the chances of pregnancy. “Of course, if there is this increase in eggs during this period, a woman will be more likely to become pregnant with twins. The important thing is to always consult the doctor and see the best options for getting pregnant,” she explains.

3. Are older women more likely to have twins?

Alberto D’Áuria, gynecologist and obstetrician at Maternity Pro Matre Paulista, answers that women over 35 have their chances increased by the possible concomitant ovulation of several eggs.

Mantelli points out that the chances of a woman getting pregnant from the age of 35 turn out to be lower. “With advancing age, the tendency is for women to lose more and more eggs and the quality of these eggs to decrease… So, consequently, the chances of her getting pregnant are lower. However, the greater a woman’s age, the greater the chance of having twins because she runs the risk of ovulating twice in the same month, so, with advancing age, the greater the chance of having twins, “he explains. .

4. Does supplementing with folic acid help this goal?

Not. “Folic acid serves to help as a nutrient to continue with a healthy pregnancy, and this supplement helps to prevent diseases in the spinal cord and brain development of the baby. Therefore, it does not help in the objective of having a twin pregnancy”, replies the gynecologist and obstetrician Mantelli.

5. What foods does the partner have to eat to help increase the couple’s chances of having twins?

This is a myth. “There is no relationship between food and twin pregnancy. The story of ‘twin bananas makes a woman have twins’, for example, is a myth, so there are no foods that increase the chances of getting pregnant with twins”, highlights Mantelli.

6. Is there any sexual position that helps to get pregnant with twins?

There is no sexual position to get pregnant with twins or, simply, get pregnant. “The only ways to get pregnant are: to be in good health, to be in the fertile period and ovulating.”, highlights the gynecologist and obstetrician Mantelli.

7. In the second pregnancy, does the chance of having twins increase?

This is a myth, as Mantelli points out. “There is no indication that, in the second pregnancy, a woman has a chance of becoming pregnant with twins, unless she has a predisposition and hereditary factor”, he says.

Leite comments that the chances can be increased only if this second pregnancy occurs when the woman is over 40 years old, for example. “What influences is age and not the number of times the pregnant woman has been pregnant previously”, says the obstetrician.

8. Are overweight women more likely to have twins?

“There are studies that link multiple pregnancies with the rate of obesity, but it is not recommended, since obesity triggers a series of factors that are harmful to the health of women and babies, in this case”, explains Mantelli.

For Leite, this is yet another myth. “In some cases, overweight is related to polycystic ovaries, which can make it more difficult to get pregnant naturally,” he says.

9. Is a woman who becomes pregnant while breastfeeding more likely to have a twin pregnancy?

There is research that suggests a chance of twin pregnancy while the mother breastfeeds. “But, it is not recommended to get pregnant after giving birth in a short time, as the body needs time to recover. The woman needs to follow up with the gynecologist and take the necessary care if she does not want a second pregnancy in such a short time”, highlights Mantelli.

Leite also explains that, during breastfeeding, the woman does not have a standard fertile period. “Breastfeeding doesn’t block ovulation, but it does decrease the chances of getting pregnant,” she says.

10. Is a woman more likely to have twins if she becomes pregnant through IVF?

Yup. “The chance of having a multiple pregnancy through artificial insemination is around 15% more than naturally, due to treatments and techniques for infertility”, says Mantelli.

“In artificial insemination, when ovulation is stimulated, the chance of multiple pregnancy is 10%. In classic IVF or sperm injection, the chance of having twins is 20% to 25%, and of having triplets is 5%. What makes the probability of fertilization greater is the use of two or more embryos per attempt”, explains Mantelli.

Alberto D’Áuria reinforces that in vitro fertilization increases the chances of having twins. These patients, guided by the doctor, make a good reserve of folic acid beforehand and eat better. As a result of the new lifestyle of women, they have a slower aging process, so, with good medical advice, your body can have a great reaction to the transfers of several embryos that end up being in the uterus successfully”, he highlights.

11. If I have twins in my family, does that mean I’m more likely to have twins too?

Yes, if the cases of twins are linked to the mother’s family, there is a high chance of having twins too. “For example, if the expectant mother is the daughter of a woman who has had twins, or if she has an aunt who has already had twins, her chances of having a twin pregnancy are higher,” explains Mantelli.

D’Áuria reinforces that having a family history of fraternal twins in the family offers increased chances by the possible concomitant ovulation of several eggs.

12. And if there are cases of twin pregnancies in my husband’s family, does that increase our chances?

“As far as is known, only the woman’s side counts, that is, if your husband is a twin, this does not influence your chances… But if you have a twin sister, your chances are high”, answers the doctor. Mantelli.

Luiz Fernando Leite recalls that a woman only releases one egg at each ovulation, and it is the release of an egg that can interfere with the chance of having a twin pregnancy.

13. What are the chances of having a natural pregnancy with twins?

Leite replies that the chance of having a natural pregnancy with twins is 1 in 80 cases.

“The natural pregnancy of twins is by genetics, or people who have a natural predisposition to have a double ovulation, facilitating the fertilization of more than one egg at the same time. However, there are cases of women who became pregnant without having twins in the family, but there are a number of factors that influence this multiple pregnancy to happen”, explains Mantelli.

14. What is it like to be pregnant with twins in general? Does it require more care?

“Because it is a twin pregnancy, the risk of premature labor is much greater and, consequently, there must be greater care during prenatal care. So, in fact, there are three lives to be monitored, not just two… Thus, care has to be redoubled, without a shadow of a doubt”, Mantelli replies.

Alberto D’Áuria highlights that pregnant twins will have more nausea, as a result of the production of more hormones. “In addition, postpartum distress is heightened by the anxiety of breastfeeding. At this moment, it is important that the obstetrician supports the puerperal woman and helps to bring the family together at this very important time”, he says.

Leite also explains that the natural risks of pregnancy increase in twin pregnancy. “The main risk is that of prematurity (birth before the 37th week), which increases because, in theory, the mother’s womb can only hold one baby. So, this ‘lack of space’ increases the chances of a premature birth. In addition, the symptoms of a twin pregnancy tend to be greater and start earlier, around four to six weeks compared to another singleton pregnant woman. For example, a five-month pregnant with twins has the symptoms of a six-month pregnant with a single fetus,” says the doctor.

“Pregnant women are even more likely to develop lower abdominal pain, varicose veins, stretch marks, hemorrhoids, shortness of breath, swelling. The secret of a pregnant twin is not to gain excessive weight and to have a good medical follow-up. If the obstetrician allows, she is released to perform exercises…