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Desiring Another Duo?
November, 2006
By Cheryl Lage
QUESTION:
Hi there! I am a mother to 3. Our son is 4 1/2, and our fraternal twin girls are 22 months. Twins do not run in my family and I was told that it was just "fluke" thing by my doctor (that I happened to release two eggs that month). I would love to have twins again, when we are ready of course, but had some questions that I can't seem to find the answer for anywhere, so I thought I would try this.
Since our twins were the result of releasing two eggs, is there a way to know when you are ovulating, if you released one or two? Is there any kit or predictor for that? I know there are ovulation predictor kits, but can they tell you anything like if you are releasing one or two? Maybe this is an odd question. I would just like to try anything to increase our chances. I have NO trouble getting pregnant, since both pregnancies occurred the first time we tried!! I have read many things about the higher chances of conceiving twins if you have already had one set of fraternal twins, I believe I read that the chances are 4 times higher. I am a white female, almost 31 yrs old, avg. weight, etc, so not really any of the other factors would apply to me except for the fact we already have one set of twins. I have heard that many who go on Clomid, will end up with multiples. But considering I don't have any trouble (or didn't before) getting pregnant, would a dr. even try that route if you are wanting twins again???
Before we decide to "try" again, we wanted to try to find out some info. I don't know if this is a normal feeling for mothers of twins, but I think I would almost be disappointed if we got pregnant again and it WASN'T twins. I have told a few friends of our desire to have twins again and they think I am crazy!! HA! I think that if you don't have twins, a person wouldn't understand the feeling of seeing those two smiling little faces everyday and the joy that twins can bring to your life. Just to see them interact with each other just amazes me and I still can hardly believe we have twins---and they are 22 months old!!
Anyway, any insight you may be able to give on this subject or direct me to where I may be able to find some answers, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for your time!
Twin Mom Lisa
ANSWER:
Hi Lisa
Let me start by responding to a statement somewhat in the middle of your e-query:
“I don't know if this is a normal feeling for mothers of twins, but I think I would almost be disappointed if we got pregnant again and it WASN'T twins.”
I love and respect your candor/honesty! Whether it is “normal” or not, I don’t know---but speaking from personal experience, even though we had always “planned on having two” (and who could’ve known they’d arrive within 7 minutes of one another?), I’d be lying to say I didn’t spend some time entertaining the entertaining (and appealing) thought of what it might be like to have a “second set”. Oddly enough, whenever I (not my husband!) contemplated the idea of another pregnancy, not for one minute did I EVER imagine having a singly-born child! Weird? Perhaps. But if both of us have felt that desire for another duo, I doubt we’re the only ones. I do think that your articulate statement, “if you don't have twins, a person wouldn't understand the feeling of seeing those two smiling little faces everyday and the joy that twins can bring to your life,” explains a lot about why we’ve felt the way we have!
To your real question, while I admire (and somewhat empathize with-despite the retirement of my reproductive system) your desire to have a “second set”, without any demonstrated challenges in fertility/conceiving, I sincerely doubt your doctor will (or should) prescribe Clomid, or any other ovulation-stimulating drug. In truth, while taking Clomid does increase the possibility of multiples, the statistics documenting the percentages of multiple births that result are far less than the general procreating public might think. There are many reasons why reputable doctors will not prescribe drugs to increase the likelihood of multiples…none the least of which, despite our collective good fortune in bringing our twins healthily to birth, is that inherently, a multiples pregnancy IS riskier for the babies and the Mama-to-be. Medical powers-that-be worthy of their calling tend to keep “risks” at a minimal, not cause them. Of course as we both know, they can manage them marvelously once “risks” manifest, but without perceived “need” of reproductive assistance, a Clomid prescription is a no-no. You may have already heard of the availability of Clomid online, taken unprescribed by women similarly seeking more than one in-utero. While I tend to be very easy-going/laissez faire in my tips/advice, let me change my tone for a brief moment and forcefully state, DO NOT ORDER (and worse, take) UNPRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS ACQUIRED VIA THE INTERNET ! (Not that I think you would, but for the benefit of all who may be reading this I am compelled to make that advice clear.) Doing so is ILLEGAL. Way too risky for you, for the baby(-ies) that are conceived, and certainly jeopardizes your insurability and relationship with your trusted medical caregivers
On a happier note, there may be some natural ways to twincrease your odds of another multiple pregnancy.
As you age, your chances of “double-dropping” eggs (as in your first “fluke”) increases, so the passing of time alone increases your chances.
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A prior set of twins also increases your chances of a second set. (So you’ve already got that going for you!)
If indeed you do begin to experience fertility issues as you get older (and that DOES happen with previously fertile women), there may be medically responsible interventions taken (including the prescription of Clomid, IVF treatments, etc.) that will increase your odds of another multiple birth.
Of course, there are all sorts of wives’ tales about food consumption, post-coital positions, timings of intimacy etc., but I’d not put too much hopes in those suggestions! And at this point in time, and to my knowledge, no over-the-counter (or otherwise) tests for purchase will reveal the presence or likelihood of a doubled ovulation.
Ultimately, I’m confident whatever future sibling(-s) join your “already-here” children, they’ll be adored and cherished…whether they arrive singly or as a group!
Kudos to you for embracing multiple motherhood…your children, and future children, are blessed to have you!
Blessings to you, perhaps doubled blessings!
Cheryl
www.Twinsights.com
Feel free to contact me with your experiences in twin potty-training, or with any twin parenting dilemnas you may have at http://www.twinsights.com. I hope to hear from you!
© Cheryl Lage, 2004-
Author of "Twinspiration: Real-Life Advice From Pregnancy Through the First Year" from Taylor Trade Publishing (2006), Cheryl is a fully-mobile, full-time mom to four-year-old fraternal twins, Darren and Sarah. Cheryl's unabashed honesty, vigilantly supportive style, and willingness to share "what works" have made her a requested speaker on a broad range of topics, twin-related, and otherwise. Check out her website @ twinsights.com.
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