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Did you know that the number
of twin births have more than doubled since the early
1970s? Today, about one of every 35 births in the United
States are twins. Even more significant is the number of
triplet and higher multiple births which have increased
200 percent over the last three decades.
Why the huge jump in the
number of multiple births?
The most obvious reason for
the growing birth rates of twins and multiples is the use
of fertility drugs and treatments. These medical
interventions are most often the reason for births of four
or more multiples. Recent studies from the Center for
Disease Control (CDC) show that approximately 43 percent
of live births resulting from assisted reproductive
techniques were multiples.
But fertility drugs don’t
tell the whole story.
Where you live could make a
difference. If you reside in Massachusetts or Connecticut,
a study by the National Center for Health Statistics found
that the rates for twin deliveries was as much as 25
percent higher than the overall national rate. If you want
to give birth to triplets, move to Nebraska or New Jersey.
Both states boast a percentage of triplets that is twice
the national average.
On the other hand, if you
reside in tropical Hawaii your chances of having a
multiple will decrease to about 30 percent below the
overall U.S. rate.
The time of year and the
number of daylight hours also has an impact on multiple
births. More fraternal twins are conceived in July than in
any other month, while January has the fewest twin
conceptions. Scientists speculate that this is probably
due to the longer length of daylight in July, which allows
for a higher secretion of the Follicle Stimulating Hormone
in women.
Enhanced medical care and
good nutrition may play a role in skyrocketing multiple
birth rates, although experts caution that it is difficult
to directly link these influences. In fact, if access to
state-of-the-art medicine were a deciding factor, then why
does the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria have the highest twinning
incidence in the entire world? These Nigerian people
attribute it to their population’s consumption of a
specific type of yam. Yams? That’s right, scientists
have discovered that these colorful vegetables that are
grown only in Africa contain a high level of a substance
that is similar to the hormone estrogen -- which could
bring on multiple ovulation.
Surprisingly, age can work
in a woman’s favor when it comes to conceiving twins.
Older mothers traditionally have a higher chance of
delivering fraternal twins, with the odds increasing to
one in 27 when the mother is 35 years or older.
While identical twins have
no familial connection, it is true that fraternal twins
can run in the family. Female fraternal twins score an
impressive one in 17 chance of giving birth to their own
set of fraternal twins, probably because many carry a gene
for hyperovulation, which means they sometimes release
more than one egg during ovulation. And, if a woman has
already given birth to fraternal twins, the chance of
another set increases fourfold.
Want to learn more about
babies and multiples? Visit the All About Baby website at http://www.allbaby.com
for extensive child-related content, including tips on how
to pick the best name for your newborn, interesting birth
statistics, a list of the most popular given names for
children and much more.
**All statistics were taken
from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the National
Center for Health Statistics and from the National
Organization of Mothers of Twins Club (NOMOTC).
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About
The Author
Nancy
Wurtzel founded her ecommerce business,
All About Baby, in 1995. All About Baby
located online at http://www.allbaby.com
specializes in personalized and memorable
gifts for children as well as interesting
and helpful child-related site content.
Ms. Wurtzel consults with small businesses
seeking to expand.
nancy@allbaby.com |
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